Smart Supplementation

Turmeric: An Anti-inflammatory Herb…And More

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a bright yellow, ancient spice and a traditional remedy that has been used as a medicine, condiment and flavoring based on records dating back to 600 BCE.  Turmeric's natural curcuminoid content inhibits 5-lipo-oxygenase (LOX) and cyclo-oxygenase (COX), resulting in a healthy inflammatory response (Chandra 1972; Arora 1971; Mukhopadhyay 1982). 

Protects From Oxidative Damage

Curcumin exhibits strong antioxidant activity (Toda 1985), enhances cellular resistance to oxidative damage (Mortellini 2000), and provides antioxidant protection against DNA damage (Garcea 2004). Curcumin also enhances the body's natural antioxidant glutathione levels; which in turn aids the liver in detoxification (Pizorrno 1999).  Turmeric has also been found to have hepatoprotective (i.e., liver-protective) properties against a variety of liver-toxic chemicals (Deshpande 1998; Park 2000; Kiso 1983; Donatus 1990; Soni 1993).

Joint Function & Healthy Inflammatory Response

In research on people with suboptimal joint function, curcumin was found to be useful for promoting a healthy inflammatory response, while promoting comfort and flexibility (Deodhar 1980).  In a double-blind study, curcumin was found to be superior to a placebo or other study compounds supporting a healthy post-surgical inflammatory response (Satoskar 1986).

Antimutgenic Effects

Animal research and human cell culture studies have demonstrated that curcumin has an anti-mutagenic effects (Kawamori 1999), and anti-angiogenic effects (reduced the growth of new blood vessels that would otherwise nourish the growth of mutagenic cells) (Thaloor 1998), as well as reducing the activity of several common mutagens (Mehta 1991; Soudamini 1989; Azuine 1992; Boone 1992).  This activity is consistent with COX-2 inhibition. 

Antimicrobial & Cardiovascular Support

Turmeric extract and curcumin has also reduced the growth of a variety of bacteria, parasites, and pathogenic fungi (Allen 1998; Apisariyakul 1995; Rasmussen 2000); and have provided a protective effect on the cardiovascular system including the promotion of healthy cholesterol and triglyceride levels within normal ranges, while decreasing susceptibility of low density lipoprotein (LDL) to lipid peroxidation (Ramirez-Tortosa 1999), and reducing platelet aggregation (Srivastava 1986). 

Gastrointestinal Support

Constituents of turmeric exert several protective effects on the gastrointestinal tract. A salt of curcumin was found to promote intestinal comfort, and p-tolymethylcarbinol, a turmeric component, was found capable of increasing gastrin, secretin, bicarbonate, and pancreatic enzyme secretion (Ammon 1991). In addition, a double-blind trial has found turmeric helpful for people with indigestion (Thamlikikul 1999), and effective in animal research in promoting healthy digestive function *Rafatulla 1991).

Extract Standardized for 95%

A turmeric extract standardized for 95% curcuminoids (including curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin) will provide you with the active components in this plant. This turmeric concentrate with 95% curcuminoids is an exceptional value.  Consider that whole turmeric naturally provides between 3 to 8 percent curcuminoids (Natural Standard 2009). Therefore, if you wanted to obtain a clinically relevant dose of 450 mg curcuminoids, you would have to consume 5.63 to 15 grams of whole turmeric.  With the 95% concentrate, however, a single capsule will provide the 475 mg curcuminoids.

References

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• Arora R, Basu N, Kapoor V, et al. Anti-inflammatory studies on Curcuma longa (turmeric). Ind J Med Res 1971;59:1289-1295.
• Azuine M, Bhide S. Chemopreventive effect of turmeric against stomach and skin tumors induced by chemical carcinogens in Swiss mice. Nutr Cancer 1992; 17:77-83.
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