Turmeric

Since ancient times, turmeric has been linked to the Hindu religion. Turmeric is still revered in India as a part of the ‘Kali’ (Mother Goddess) and ‘Naga’ religions (the serpent deity).  KUMKUMS are applied longitudinally by Hindu married women on their foreheads as a sign of their marital status (or lack thereof).

Anorexia, indigestion, diarrhoea, biliary and liver disorders, and flatulence are all said to be helped by taking turmeric orally. Fumes from burned turmeric are commonly used to treat sinusitis, coryza, and other ailments in rural India. As an antiseptic, turmeric powder was applied to the severed umbilical cords of newborn babies in rural India. As in traditional veterinary practices, turmeric is used extensively in the treatment of diseases like scabies in cattle and dogs as well as skin infections in domestic animals.

For vegetable and meat dishes, as well as soup-like dishes, Asian countries use whole, dry, or fresh turmeric, as well as turmeric powder mixed with other spices like chilies, coriander, pepper, and cumin, for example.

For their diverse biological properties, curcuminoids, turmeric powder, ether-chloroform-water and alcohol extracts of turmeric (including ar-turmerone and turmerin), sodium curcuminate (a salt of curcumin), and turmeric volatile oil have been studied.

It’s also known that curcuminoids fight free radicals and fight inflammation, and they’ve been used as a chemo preventive agent for many different types of cancer, including colon, breast, prostate, and even oral and esophageal cancer. Atherosclerosis and viral and bacterial growth have been inhibited with their use. Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties may be influenced by the amount of curcuminoids present.

Turmeric and curcumin are two terms that mean different things.  That bright yellow hue you see in curries comes from the spice known as turmeric.  Spice and medicinal herb alike, it has been used in Indian cuisine for thousands of years. Turmeric has long been believed to contain medicinal compounds due to advances in science.  Turmeric’s active ingredients are known as curcuminoids. Curcumin, by far, is the most significant.  Turmeric’s primary active component is curcumin.

Turmeric and curcumin have been shown in studies to have a number of health benefits.

• Bioactive compounds with medicinal properties are found in turmeric.
• Fat soluble means that it breaks down and dissolves in fat or oil, which is another benefit of curcumin. That’s why taking curcumin supplements with a high-fat meal may be a good idea.
• Curcumin is an anti-inflammatory natural compound. The role of inflammation in the body cannot be overstated. It aids your body’s defenses against invaders and plays a role in healing injury.
• Curcumin is a bioactive substance that can fight inflammation, despite the fact that the topic of inflammation is complex and there is likely no simple answer. However, medicinal effects can only be attained with extremely high doses
• Turmeric has the ability to boost the body’s antioxidant defenses. Oxidative damage is thought to be a factor in the ageing process and the development of numerous diseases.  The process utilises unpaired electron free radicals, which are highly reactive molecules. Fat acids, proteins, and DNA are all common targets for free radical reactions.  Antioxidants are so beneficial because they shield your body from the harmful effects of free radicals.  Due to its chemical structure, curcumin is a potent antioxidant capable of neutralising free radicals.
• Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is an important catalyst in this process. An essential protein for the health and well-being of neurons is produced when this gene is active. It has been found that the BDNF protein helps with memory and learning in areas of the brain associated with food, drink, and body mass. Low levels of the BDNF protein have been linked to a variety of disorders, including depression and Alzheimer’s disease. Animal studies have shown that curcumin raises levels of the neurotransmitter BDNF in the brain
• Neuroscientists used to think that neurons couldn’t divide or multiply after adolescence because they didn’t know enough about them. Now they know more. In fact, they’ve now come to realise the inverse is true. New connections can be formed and neurons can be multiplied in certain parts of the brain by neuronal activity. Many brain diseases and age-related declines in brain function can be postponed or even reversed by following this advice. This. However, because these studies were conducted on animals, it’s difficult to draw any conclusions about the implications for humans. It may help with memory and concentration because of its impact on BDNF levels. However, to be sure, more research is required.
• A recent study suggests that curcumin may reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. The leading cause of death worldwide is coronary artery disease. Over the years, scientists have learned a great deal about what causes it. Cardiovascular disease is, unsurprisingly, a highly complex condition that is influenced by a wide range of factors. Curcumin has the potential to help halt the progression of heart disease by reversing numerous steps in the disease process. It’s possible that curcumin’s most significant benefit for heart disease is improved endothelial function, the lining of your blood vessels. Curcumin can also help to reduce inflammation and oxidation, both of which have been linked to heart disease.
• Turmeric may be useful in the fight against cancer if used regularly. Uncontrolled cell growth is a hallmark of cancer as a disease. Curcumin supplements appear to have an impact on a wide range of cancer types. It’s been discovered that curcumin, a beneficial herb in cancer treatment, slows cancer cell growth and development, resulting in the death of cancerous cells when taken orally.
• Curcumin has been shown to improve the pathological process of Alzheimer’s disease by crossing the blood-brain barrier.
• Patients with arthritis do well on curcumin supplements, according to the research. Curcumin is a potent anti-inflammatory compound, so it stands to reason that it could be beneficial for arthritis sufferers. Many studies have found a connection between the two. Curcumin was found to be even more effective than an anti-inflammatory drug in a study of people with rheumatoid arthritis.
• There are antidepressant properties to curcumin. Researchers believe curcumin could be helpful in the treatment of depression. Reduced BDNF levels and a shrinking hippocampus, both of which are linked to depression, have been discovered. These changes could be reversed by increasing BDNF levels with curcumin. Studies suggest that curcumin may also boost levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain.
• Curcumin has been linked to a reduction in the onset of age-related chronic diseases and the prevention of premature ageing.

 

References

Sasikumar B. 28 – Turmeric. In: Peter KV, editor. Handbook of Herbs and Spices (Second Edition): Woodhead Publishing; 2012. p. 526-46.

sandur s k, pandey m k, sung b, ahn ks, murakami a, sethi g, limtrakul p, badmaev v and aggarwal BB (2007) Curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin, tetrahydrocurcumin and turmerones differentially regulate anti-infl ammatory and anti-proliferative responses through a ROS-independent mechanism, Carcinogenesis, 28: 1765–73.

kapoor a (1998) Antifungal activities of fresh juice and aqueous extracts of turmeric and ginger, J. Physiol. Res., 10(1–2): 167–81.