Curcuma longa anti-inflammatory activity

Chainani-Wu N. (2003) Safety and anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin A component of tumeric (Curcuma longa). J Ahern Complement Med 9 161-168. 

Essential oils have also been shown to be useful as anti-inflammatory agents. The anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities of Ocimum sanctum fixed oil have been evaluated recently [220]. The results reported are consistent with the folk medicine use of different parts of this plant for the treatment of acute and chronic inflammation. The results of an investigation on the anti-inflammatory activities of flavonoids of Baphia nitida, another plant used in folk medicine, were recently reported [221]. The flavo no id-rich fraction of the leaf, obtained by a chromatographic process, was formulated into an ointment and exhibited significant antiinflammatory activity in several rodent inflammation models. The inhibition of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-a) and interleukin-1(3 (IL-1), mediators in many acute and chronic inflammatory diseases, by curcumin (111), a phytochemical isolated from the plant Curcuma longa Linn, was recently reported [222]. This report shows that, in vitro, curcumin (111), at 5 (J.M, inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of TNF-a and IL-1 by a human monocytic macrophage cell line. 

Curcuma longa L. C. domestica L. Yu Jin (Turmeric) (tuber) 1-curcamene, sesquiterpene, camphor, camphene, curmarin, curzernone, curzenene, curcumol, furanodienone, furanodiene, zederone, curcolone, diol, procurcumenol, curdione, curcumin. 33-398-460-510 Anti-inflammatory, antitumor, anti-infectious properties, antioxidative activity. Activate blood flow, remove blood stasis. 

Curcumin (9) is an arylheptanoid isolated from turmeric, the rhizome of Curcuma longa L. Turmeric has been used as a remedy for inflammatory in Asia for centuries. There are a number of reports supporting an anti-inflammatory effect of curcumin. Its hepatoprotective activity against inflammatory liver injury was also demonstrated in a recent study [105], where pretreatment with curcumin (50 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly inhibited the elevation of serum transaminase activities after intoxication with D-GalN and LPS in mice. The hepatoprotective effect is presumably... 

Spices have been also considered to be nutraceuticals. Curry powder, a commercial spice blend from India used nowadays worldwide, includes mr-meric, obtained from Curcuma longa. Beneficial effects of turmeric, known in Europe as Indian saffron since medieval times, have been associated to one of its components, curcumin with antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cancer preventive activities [33-35]. 

---