Showing papers on "Curcumin published in 1992"

Effect of oral curcumin administration on serum peroxides and cholesterol levels in human volunteers.

Abstract: The effect of curcumin administration in reducing the serum levels of cholesterol and lipid peroxides was studied in ten healthy human volunteers, receiving 500 mg of curcumin per day for 7 days. A significant decrease in the level of serum lipid peroxides (33%), increase in HDL Cholesterol (29%), and a decrease in total serum cholesterol (11.63%) were noted. As curcumin reduced serum lipid peroxides and serum cholesterol, the study of curcumin as a chemopreventive substance against arterial diseases is suggested.

Curcumin as an inhibitor of cancer.

Abstract: Curcumin I (Cur I) and curcumin III (Cur III) are the yellow coloring phenolic compounds isolated from the spice turmeric. The effect of curcumins on different stages of development of cancer was studied. Cur I inhibited benzopyrene- (BP) induced forestomach tumors in female Swiss mice, and Cur III inhibited dimethylbenzanthracene- (DMBA) induced skin tumors in Swiss bald mice. Cur I also inhibited DMBA-initiated, tetradeconyl phorbol acetate-promoted skin tumors in female Swiss mice. In vitro 3H-BP-DNA interaction studies, and in vivo carcinogen metabolizing enzyme studies revealed that curcumins exert anticarcinogenic activity by altering the activation and/or detoxification process of carcinogen metabolism. Cur I and Cur III also exhibit in vitro cytotoxicity against human chronic myeloid leukemia, which is dose dependent. This study shows that curcumins inhibit cancer at initiation, promotion and progression stages of development.

Inhibition of lipid peroxidation and cholesterol levels in mice by curcumin.

Abstract: Effect of oral administration of curcumin (diferuloyl methane) on lipid peroxidation in various organs of mice like liver, lung, kidney and brain was studied in control animals as well as those given carbon tetrachloride, paraquat and cyclophosphamide. Oral administration of curcumin significantly lowered the increased peroxidation of lipids in these tissues produced by these chemicals. Administration of curcumin was also found to lower significantly the serum and tissue cholesterol levels in these animals, indicating that the use of curcumin helps in conditions associated with peroxide induced injury such as liver damage and arterial diseases.

Protective role of aqueous turmeric extract against mutagenicity of direct-acting carcinogens as well as Benzo[a]pyrene-induced genotoxicity and carcinogenicity

Abstract: Turmeric (Curcuma longa Linn.) has been shown to inhibit chemical carcinogenesis. In this study, we compared the chemopreventive efficacy of an aqueous turmeric extract (AqTE) and its constituents, curcumin-free aqueous turmeric extract (CFAqTE) and curcumin, using theSalmonella typhimurium mutagenicity assay and the bone marrow micronucleus test in female Swiss mice. AqTE exhibited antimutagenic activity against direct-acting mutagens, 4-nitro-O-phenylenediamine and 1-methyl-3-nitro-1-nitrosoguanidine, in strains TA 98 and TA 100 respectively. Both AqTE and CFAqTE inhibited the mutagenicity of benzo[a]pyrene in the two strains in the presence of Aroclor-1254-induced rat liver homogenate. The inhibition in both studies was dose-dependent. Administration of AqTE, CFAqTE and curcumin at a dose of 3 mg/animal 18 h prior to i.p. benzo[a]-pyrene injection (250 mg/kg) significantly inhibited bone marrow micronuclei formation in female Swiss mice by 43%, 76%, and 65% respectively. Furthermore, the incidence and multiplicity of forestomach tumours induced by benzo[a]pyrene (1 mg/animal, twice weekly, p.o. for 4 weeks) in female Swiss mice were significantly inhibited by AqTE, CFAqTE and curcumin given 2 weeks before, during and after the carcinogen treatment. These data indicate that the protection against genomic damage by turmeric extract and its components tested could be necessary for some aspects of its cancer chemoprevention.

Effect of turmeric on urinary mutagens in smokers.

Abstract: Curcumin, the active principle of turmeric, is known to act as an anti-oxidant, anti-mutagen and anti-carcinogen in experimental animals. In the present study, anti-mutagenic effects of turmeric were assessed in 16 chronic smokers. It was observed that turmeric, given in doses of 1.5 g/day for 30 days, significantly reduced the urinary excretion of mutagens in smokers. In contrast, in six non-smokers, who served as control, there was no change in the urinary excretion of mutagens after 30 days. Turmeric had no significant effect on serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, blood glucose, creatinine and lipid profile. These results indicate that dietary turmeric is an effective anti-mutagen and it may be useful in chemoprevention.

Induction of glutathione S-transferase activity by curcumin in mice.

Abstract: Curcumin, a natural constituent of Curcuma longa (turmeric, CAS 458-37-7), has been studied for its induction of glutathione S-transferase activity in mice. At a dose of 250 mg/kg orally for 15 days, the enzyme activity in liver was increased by 1.8 fold. Its effect on other tissues like stomach, small intestine, lungs, kidney was not significant. Curcumin also depleted sulfhydryl levels in tissues, especially in stomach where 45% depletion was observed.

Fluorometric determination of curcumin in yogurt and mustard

Abstract: A method for the fluorometric determination of curcumin in acetonitrile is described. By the normal, synchronous, and synchronous first and second derivative techniques determinations can be made between 0.27 and 1500 ng/mL. A detection limit of 0.08 ng/mL was achieved with the direct and synchronous approach. The method is applied to the determination of curcumin in several yogurt and mustard samples. The rhizomes of Curcuma longa Linn (Turmeric) are used as a natural coloring matter in food processing. The rhizomes contain 1-5 7% curcumin [1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3methoxyphenyl)-l,6-heptadiene-3,5-dionel and two related demethoxy compounds present in small amounts. So far, there has been no reason to believe that the consumption of curcumin by man as a part of the diet is associated with any deleterious effects. WHO/FAO has approved specification for curcumin and a temporary acceptable daily intake of 0-0.1 mgikg body weight (FAO, 1974). However, because of the emphasis on the use of curcumin as a natural food colorant, a number of methods have been developed to measure the total color. The method most widely used for quantification of curcumin is a direct spectrophotometric method (ASTA, 1958), but a lack of reproducibility is observed (Govindarajan, 1980). Also, an intensely colored complex can be developed by reaction with boric acid (Satyanarayana et al., 1969; AOAC, 1970); this test is reported to give inconclusive results because of interference from coextractives (Karasz et al., 1973). Curcumin exhibits strong fluorescence in organic solvents. A direct method has been developed for detection of curcumin (Karasz et al., 1973). A fluorometric method for quantitative total curcuminoids determination has been proposed with a minimum concentration that could be determined in the order of 5 ng/mL (Wahlstrom and Blennow, 1978); however, no optimization parameters have been realized, and no better analytical conditions are established.

Inhibitory effect of curcumin on fatty acid desaturation in Mortierella alpina 1S-4 and rat liver microsomes.

Abstract: An extract of rhizomes ofCurcuma longta L. (turmeric) inhibited the desaturation of dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA) in the arachidonic acid (AA) producing fungusMortierella alpina 1S-4. The factor responsible for this phenomenon was isolated and identified as curcumin (diferuloyl methane). Mycelial DGLA levels increased about two-fold (22.3 mg/g dry weight) with a concomitant decrease in AA levels when the fungus was cultivated with curcumin. The 50% inhibitory concentration against Δ5 desaturase was 27.2 μM. Curcumin also inhibited rat liver microsomal Δ5 and Δ6 desaturases.

Suppressive Effect of Curcumin on Lipid Peroxidation Induced in Rats by Carbon Tetrachloride or 60Co-Irradiation

Abstract: The effect of curcumin, which occurs in root of Curcuma Longa L., Zingiberaceae, on lipid peroxidation induced in rats by the administration of carbon tetrachloride or by 60Co-irradiation was examined. Administration of curcumin once a day for 3 successive days before the administration of carbon tetrachloride suppressed the increase in lipid peroxide level in the liver and that in activities of serum glutamate oxaloacetate and glutamate pyruvate transaminases in a manner dependent on the concentration of curcumin. Curcumin also prevented the morphological changes induced in the liver by carbon tetrachloride administration. When rats administered curcumin once a day for successive 5 days were irradiated with 60Co once a day for the last 3 days, the increase in serum and liver lipid peroxide levels was significantly suppressed.

Effects of sesamin and curcumin on delta 5-desaturation and chain elongation of polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism in primary cultured rat hepatocytes.

Abstract: Effects of sesamin and curcumin on delta 5-desaturation and chain elongation of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) were studied in rat primary cultured hepatocytes. When sesamin was added to culture medium containing 20:4 (n-3), rat hepatocytes after 24 h of incubation produced 20:5 (n-3) from 20:4 (n-3), whereas when incubated with 20:3 (n-6), the metabolite by delta 5-desaturation did not accumulate, and consequently, the ratio of 20:3 (n-6)/20:4 (n-6) increased with the amount of sesamin added. Curcumin was more effective than sesamin in this respect. Both sesamin and curcumin interfered with chain elongation of PUFAs. An addition of 18:3 (n-6) or 18:4 (n-3) increased the cellular concentrations of 20:3 (n-6) or 20:4 (n-3), respectively, but the simultaneous addition of sesamin or curcumin inhibited the chain elongation of C18 acids (the fatty acids with 18 carbons) into corresponding C20 and C18 acids. Similarly, the elongation from C20 of n-3 and n-6 families to C22 was also inhibited with sesamin and curcumin. These results suggested that: 1) sesamin and curcumin inhibited delta 5-desaturation of n-6 fatty acid, but not n-3 fatty acid in rat hepatocytes; 2) curcumin was more effective than sesamin; 3) chain elongation was also inhibited by sesamin and curcumin.

Chemoprotective effect of curcumin against cyclophosphamide toxicity.

Abstract: Life-span of mice treated with a chronic lethal dose of cyclophosphamide was considerably increased by the simultaneous administration of turmeric extract or curcumin (40.8 percent and 91.7 percent respectively ). Similarly leukoplnia produced by cyclophosphamide was reduced by these agents but lowered haemoglobin levels remained unaltered. Increased glutamate-pyruvate transaminase, alkaline phosphates and thiobarbituric acid- reacting material in the liver were also reduced by turmeric and curcumin.