Antiinflammatory Turmeric

The anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin and its derivatives is associated with the hydroxyl and phenol groups in the molecule, which are also essential for the inhibition of prostaglandins, PG synthetase and leucotriene synthesis (LT) (Kiuchi et al., 1982, 1992 Iwakami, et al, 1986). Claeson et al. (1993, 1996) suggested that the antiinflammatory action and the antiparasitic activity were associated with the (3-dicarbo-nylic system with conjugated double bonds (dienes) (Araujo et al., 1998, 1999). The better skin penetration and lipophylicity is attributed to the presence of a diene ketone system. Calebin-A, a novel curcuminoid isolated from turmeric, protects neuronal cells from (3-amyloid insult. The hydroxy group at para-position of this compound is most critical for the expression of biological activity (Kim et al., 2001). 

Curcuminoids and other constituents of turmeric are well known for their antiinflammatory activity. Turmeric extract, volatile oils from turmeric and curcuminoids were reported to possess this property in different experimental models of inflammation in mice, rats, rabbits and pigeons (Arora et ah, 1971 Ghatak and Basu, 1972 Chandra and Gupta, 1972). Thus, curcuminoids are effective against carrageenan-induced oedema in rats (Srivastava et al.,... 

Curcuminoids, a group of natural products originally isolated from the Indian spice turmeric, have been known to be potent antioxidant and antiinflammatory agents for many years. Curcuminoids reduce tissue factor (TF) gene expression through the inhibition of the AP-1 and NF-kB transcription factors and thus lead to the loss of angiogenesis initiation [61, 62]. 

Recent studies showed that curry spice has some desirable health effects (antiinflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer and anti-Alzheimer), which is mainly caused by turmeric. Other ingredients only have positive effects on digestion. The effects are primarily caused by the color-causing components in turmeric, called curcumi-noids, but the medicinal benefits have not been proven beyond reasonable doubt... 

Polyketides with one or two phenylpropa-noid moieties and only one carbon derived from malonyl-Co A are the raspberry aroma/>-hydroxy-phenylbutan-2-one, the curcuminoids of turmeric Curcuma), and phenylphenalenones from Musa dmd Anigozanthos species (Fig. 23). Curcuminoids and phenylphenalenones contain two phenylpropanoid moieties on both sides of the acetate-derived carbon and are therefore classified as diaryIheptanoids. These two groups of natural products are pigments due to their conjugated system of 7i-electrons. Curcuminoids are widely used as spices and also have antiinflammatory, antioxidative, and anti-cancer properties (Joe et al., 2004). 

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