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Research: CHAINANI,
Listed in Issue 92
Abstract
CHAINANI, Department of Stomatology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 9443-0658, USA, nitacwu@itsa.ucsf.edu, reviews (42 references) the safety and anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin, a component of turmeric.
Background
Turmeric, a spice from the root of Curcuma longa, has long been used in Ayurvedic medicine for various indications. The goal of this review is to summarize the available literature on the safety and anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin, its main component.
Methodology
A search was conducted of Medline and the internet using multiple search engines. Reference lists of articles found on Medline were searched by hand. In addition, the PDR for Herbal Medicines and four textbooks on herbal medicine and their bibliographies were searched.
Results
Studies of curcumin included studies of the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antifungal properties of curcumoids. Studies on the toxicity and anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin included in vitro, animal, and human studies. A human trial with 25 subjects using up to 8,000 mg of curcumin per day for 3 months found no toxicity. Five other human trials of lower doses confirmed this. These studies found some evidence of anti-inflammatory action of curcumin, Laboratory studies have identified a number of molecules involved in inflammation that are inhibited by curcumin, amongst them phospholipases, lipoxygenase, cyclo-oxygenase 2, leukotrienes, thromboxane, prostaglandins, nitric oxide, collagenase, elastase, hyaluronidase, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, interferon-inducible protein, tumour necrosis factor, and interleukin-12.
Conclusion
Curcumin has been shown to be safe in six human trials. It may exert anti-inflammatory action by inhibiting a number of molecules involved in inflammatory processes.
References
Chainani WN. Safety and anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin: a componenet of tumeric (Curcuma longa). The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 9 (1): 161-168, Feb 2003.
