Turmeric, derived from the plant Curcuma longa, is a gold-colored spice commonly used in the Indian subcontinent, not only for health care but also for the preservation of food and as a yellow dye for textiles. Curcumin, which gives the yellow color to turmeric, was first isolated almost two centuries ago, and its structure as diferuloylmethane was determined in 1910. Since the time of Ayurveda (1900 Bc) numerous therapeutic activities have been assigned to turmeric for a wide variety of diseases and conditions, including those of the skin, pulmonary, and gastrointestinal systems, aches, pains, wounds, sprains, and liver disorders. Extensive research within the last half century has proven that most of these activities, once associated with turmeric, are due to curcumin. Curcumin has been shown to exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer activities and thus has a potential against various malignant diseases, diabetes, allergies, arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, and other chronic illnesses. These effects are mediated through the regulation of various transcription factors, growth factors, inflammatory cytokines, protein kinases, and other enzymes. Curcumin exhibits activities similar to recently discovered tumor necrosis factor blockers (e.g., HUMIRA, REMICADE, and ENBREL), a vascular endothelial cell growth factor blocker (e.g., AVASTIN), human epidermal growth factor receptor blockers (e.g., ERBITUX, ERLOTINIB, and GEFTINIB), and a HER2 blocker (e.g., HERCEPTIN). Considering the recent scientific bandwagon that multitargeted therapy is better than monotargeted therapy for most diseases, curcumin can be considered an ideal "Spice for Life".

Curcumin: The Indian solid gold

Epidemiological studies have clearly shown that whole-grain cereals can protect against obesity, diabetes, CVD and cancers. The specific effects of food structure (increased satiety, reduced transit time and glycaemic response), fibre (improved faecal bulking and satiety, viscosity and SCFA production, and/or reduced glycaemic response) and Mg (better glycaemic homeostasis through increased insulin secretion), together with the antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic properties of numerous bioactive compounds, especially those in the bran and germ (minerals, trace elements, vitamins, carotenoids, polyphenols and alkylresorcinols), are today well-recognised mechanisms in this protection. Recent findings, the exhaustive listing of bioactive compounds found in whole-grain wheat, their content in whole-grain, bran and germ fractions and their estimated bioavailability, have led to new hypotheses. The involvement of polyphenols in cell signalling and gene regulation, and of sulfur compounds, lignin and phytic acid should be considered in antioxidant protection. Whole-grain wheat is also a rich source of methyl donors and lipotropes (methionine, betaine, choline, inositol and folates) that may be involved in cardiovascular and/or hepatic protection, lipid metabolism and DNA methylation. Potential protective effects of bound phenolic acids within the colon, of the B-complex vitamins on the nervous system and mental health, of oligosaccharides as prebiotics, of compounds associated with skeleton health, and of other compounds such as alpha-linolenic acid, policosanol, melatonin, phytosterols and para-aminobenzoic acid also deserve to be studied in more depth. Finally, benefits of nutrigenomics to study complex physiological effects of the 'whole-grain package', and the most promising ways for improving the nutritional quality of cereal products are discussed.

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New hypotheses for the health-protective mechanisms of whole-grain cereals: what is beyond fibre?

Pharmacological actions and potential uses of Momordica charantia: a review

Ultrasound (US) has an ever-increasing role in the delivery of therapeutic agents including genetic material, proteins, and chemotherapeutic agents. Cavitating gas bodies such as microbubbles are the mediators through which the energy of relatively non-interactive pressure waves is concentrated to produce forces that permeabilize cell membranes and disrupt the vesicles that carry drugs. Thus the presence of microbubbles enormously enhances delivery of genetic material, proteins and smaller chemical agents. Delivery of genetic material is greatly enhanced by ultrasound in the presence of microbubbles. Attaching the DNA directly to the microbubbles or to gas-containing liposomes enhances gene uptake even further. US-enhanced gene delivery has been studied in various tissues including cardiac, vascular, skeletal muscle, tumor and even fetal tissue. US-enhanced delivery of proteins has found most application in transdermal delivery of insulin. Cavitation events reversibly disrupt the structure of the stratus corneum to allow transport of these large molecules. Other hormones and small proteins could also be delivered transdermally. Small chemotherapeutic molecules are delivered in research settings from micelles and liposomes exposed to ultrasound. Cavitation appears to play two roles: it disrupts the structure of the carrier vesicle and releases the drug; it also makes the cell membranes and capillaries more permeable to drugs. There remains a need to better understand the physics of cavitation of microbubbles and the impact that such cavitation has upon cells and drug-carrying vesicles.

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Ultrasonic Drug Delivery – A General Review

Digestion, absorption, and cancer preventative activity of dietary chlorophyll derivatives

Momordica charantia (Bitter Gourd) peel, pulp, seed and whole fruit extract inhibits mouse skin papillomagenesis

Modulatory influence of arecoline on the phytic acid-altered hepatic biotransformation system enzymes, sulfhydryl content and lipid peroxidation in a murine system.

The present study evaluates the modulatory potential of chlorophyllin (CHL) on the murine skin papillomagenesis pattern and its influence on the levels of biotransformation system enzymes. Topical application of CHL (100 mg/kg body weight/day) during peri-, post- or peri- and post-initiational stages of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced papillomagenesis, significantly (P < 0.01) reduced the (i) tumor burden to 3.68, 3.56 and 3.33 (positive control value : 5.89) ; (ii) cumulative number of papillomas to 59, 57 and 60 (positive control value : 112) ; and (iii) incidence of mice bearing papillomas to 88%, 88% and 90%, respectively (positive control value 100%). CHL treatment alone or during peri-, post-, or peri- and post-initiational stages significantly elevated the glutathione S-transferase (GST) and -SH levels in the liver and skin tissue of the murine system. The potential of CHL in modulating the process of carcinogenesis is suggested by the altered levels of biotransformation system enzymes. The implications of the biochemical changes and inhibition of tumor incidence by CHL are discussed.

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MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND CANCER PREVENTION: Modulatory influence of chlorophyllin on the mouse skin papillomagenesis and xenobiotic detoxication system

Modulatory potential of smokeless tobacco on the garlic, mace or black mustard-altered hepatic detoxication system enzymes, sulfhydryl content and lipid peroxidation in murine system.

The present study assesses the potential of arecoline alkaloid to translactationally modify the chemopreventive efficacy of curcumin (diferuloyl methane) via neonatal modulation of hepatic biotransformation system enzymes. Curcumin (0.4 g/kg body wt/day) induced a significant increase in the hepatic levels of glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST), acid‐soluble sulfhydryl (SH), cytochrome b5, and cytochrome P‐450 in lactating dams and F1 pups at 14 or 21 days. Arecoline (20 mg/kg body wt/day) could not modulate the hepatic GST and SH levels, although significant induction was observed in the levels of cytochrome b5 and cytochrome P‐450 in dams and suckling pups. Significant enhancement of hepatic GST, SH, cytochrome b5, and cytochrome P‐450 levels was observed in groups treated with curcumin + arecoline. Curcumin‐induced levels of GST and SH were depressed whereas cytochrome b5 and cytochrome P‐450 were further elevated by curcumin + arecoline treatment. The elevated levels of Phase I enzymes were more ...

Satya Prakash Singh

Papers

Momordica charantia (Bitter Gourd) peel, pulp, seed and whole fruit extract inhibits mouse skin papillomagenesis

Modulatory influence of arecoline on the phytic acid-altered hepatic biotransformation system enzymes, sulfhydryl content and lipid peroxidation in a murine system.

MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND CANCER PREVENTION: Modulatory influence of chlorophyllin on the mouse skin papillomagenesis and xenobiotic detoxication system

Modulatory potential of smokeless tobacco on the garlic, mace or black mustard-altered hepatic detoxication system enzymes, sulfhydryl content and lipid peroxidation in murine system.

Effect of arecoline on the curcumin‐modulated hepatic biotransformation system enzymes in lactating mice and translactationally exposed F1 pups