What is curcumin?
Curcumin is found in turmeric (Curcuma longa). From this occurrence, the name of the dye is derived. However, it is also produced synthetically.
In addition to the keto form, there are also all-trans and cis, trans geometric isomers.
Use
Curcumin finds extensive use as food additive E 100 to the coloring of food products, such as margarine, pasta, potato flakes, rice dishes, jam, Marmalade and mustard.
In addition, Curcumin is also flavouring source of Goldenseal used as spice and flavoring. The rhizome of the turmeric is a traditional and essential component of curry powder.
Its use as a textile dye was discontinued due to the volatility in the alkaline.
Features
Curcumin dissolves in acids with a light blue color and alkaline brown. The transition point is at pH 8 to 9.
Curcumin can be used as a reagent for the detection of boron in the form of borates, since forms in acidic solution of the red dye rosocyanine or in the presence of oxalic acid dye Rubrocurcumin.
Curcumin benefits
Inflammation and carcinogenesis
Curcumin reduces inflammation by inhibiting the enzymes cyclooxygenase-2, lipoxygenase and NO synthase. The analgesic effect of curcumin could, inter alia, be detected in patients with knee osteoarthritis. The reduction of inflammation is also believed to be the cause of the anti-cancer effect. The anti-cancer effects also could be experimentally demonstrate: Curcumin can push back polyps and thus prevent bowel cancer as a study in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (in this hereditary disease, hundreds of polyps form in the intestine, untreated colorectal cancer is developed) showed. By taking curcumin, the number of polyps decreased by 60 percent. The size of the remaining polyps was reduced on average by 50 percent.
Animal studies with mice show that curcumin can inhibit the formation and spread of metastases in breast cancer. The substance could be particularly effective in combination with the drug paclitaxel, a commonly used agent in the treatment of breast cancer. Some epidemiological studies also show an anticarcinogenic potential and thus a possible chemopreventive effect in prostate cancer. Recent studies have shown that curcumin inhibits the formation of metastases in advanced breast and prostate cancer. The investigation of the underlying mechanism of action, while at the cellular level has revealed that curcumin on the transcription factor NF-KB and takes CXCL1 -2 influence on the synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines, leading to a blockage of a number of factors prometastatischen.
Osteogenesis
Curcumin reduces bone loss by lowering the concentration of RANK ligand in the bone marrow and thus the development of osteoclasts, which break down the bone substance inhibits. In addition, it counteracts estrogen deficiency caused by loss of bone density, as a study in mice suggests.
Immunology
Curcumin or turmeric powder is estimated in traditional medicine for a long time (eg. As Ayurveda) for its anti-inflammatory effect.
Studies show that taking a curcumin-phospholipid complex causes very high blood levels of demethoxycurcumin and actually has a strong anti-inflammatory. In a double-blind study of curcumin-phospholipid complex also led to a significant improvement in pain symptoms and mobility in osteoarthritis.
Angiogenesis
Curcumin could possess antiangiogenic effects. In an animal model of diabetes mellitus, the complex had antiangiogenic prevent the development of proliferative retinopathy (damage to the small blood vessels in the retina), as a study in rats showed.
Central nervous system
It is speculated that Curcurmin against Alzheimer's disease could be effective. The results of a phase began in 2005, I study have not been published. Curcumin shows besides his neurogenesis-promoting neuroprotective effects and could be of interest for the treatment of other neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's next. Furthermore, were increasingly observed in experiments with curcumin antidepressant effects. The strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of curcumin could have positive benefits also in diabetic neuropathy.
Fat metabolism
Curcumin resulted in attempts to lower elevated blood lipid levels and a decrease in the associated settlement of atherosclerotic plaques in the vascular system and could Fettverstoffwechslung in the liver parenchyma to improve. In addition, there is evidence that curcumin could support a weight reduction in obesity.
Glucose metabolism and diabetes
Experiments show that curcumin can affect most health aspects of diabetes positively. These include: hyperglycemia, insulin resist Stenz, hyperlipidemia, and necrotic processes. They further suggest curcumin as a potential therapeutic agent for diabetic late complications such as nephropathy, retinopathy and microangiopathy. Precedents exist evidence from experimental studies. Further clinical trials are planned at the moment.
Negative effects
In addition to stimulating the bile flow at high doses (8 to 12 g / day) and a possible stomach upset are no known side effects on the human body. So taking is considered safe. Antiangiogenic effects, however, are sometimes also undesirable because angiogenesis plays an important role in the adult life such as repair process in wound healing.
Others
Since curcumin is poorly water soluble, it is absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract only to a very limited extent. In contrast, a curcumin-phospholipid complex has a 29-fold higher bioavailability than conventional curcumin. Using absorption factors such as black pepper extract (piperine) several approaches to an increased bioavailability to be examined. Because of its stability and its physical properties of pure curcumin can also be inhaled, which could potentially replace the need for oral absorption factors. This, however, carries a higher risk of iron-chelation of hemoglobin and a potentially higher risk of carcinogenicity. By heating oil or resolution in the bioavailability of curcumin contained in food is increased.