Curcumin protective properties

Orally administered curcumin effectively coimtered the biochemical changes accompanjdng myocardial inlarction induced by iso-protere-nol in rats (Nirmala and Puvanakrishnan 1996). The protective effect of curcumin (15 mg kg administered 30 minutes before and/or after the onset of ischaemia) against isoprenaline induced myocardial ischaemia has been observed as assessed by stress related biochemical parameters in rat myocardium, and this protective effect was attributed to its antioxidant properties (Manikandan etal. 1980). 

The genus Curcuma includes some 30 species, native to India and the southeast of Asia. An extract is produced from the rhizomes, whose main components are curcumin and its derivatives. This extract has well-known anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, wound healing, anti-microbial and tyrosinase inhibitory properties. Its versatility makes it suitable for a number of cosmetic formulations on the basis of its anti-ageing, photo-protective, sensitive skin treatment, skin whitening, antiseptic and insect-repellent properties (Srimal, 1997). 

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