Liver turmeric

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... 

Several spices possess antioxidative properties — a turmeric extract (curcuminoid), a hexane extract of rosemary, and the a-tocopherol-supplemented capsicum pigment exhibit their antioxidative effects in vivo by dietary supplementation. Turmeric extract has demonstrated the ability to reduce liver triacylglycerol deposition as well as cholesterol. 

Asai et al. (1999) determined that phospholipid hydroperoxides (PLOOH) are key products for oxidative injury in membranous phospholipid layers in the plasma, red blood cells (RBC), and liver of mice. The formation and accumulation of PLOOH have been confirmed in several cellular disorders, various diseases, and in aging. A lower PLOOH level was found in RBC of the spice-extract-fed mice (65 to 74% of the nonsupplemented control mice). The liver lipid peroxidizability induced with Fe2+/ascorbic acid was effectively suppressed in mice by dietary supplementation with the turmeric and capsicum extracts. Although no difference in the plasma lipids was observed, the liver triacylglycerol concentration of the turmeric-extract-fed mice was markedly reduced to half of the level in the control mice. These findings suggest that these spice extracts could act antioxidatively in vivo by food supplementation, and that the turmeric extract has the ability to prevent the deposition of triacylglycerols in the liver. 

Asai, A., Nakagawa, K., and Miyazawa, T., Antioxidative effects of turmeric, rosemary and capsicum extracts on membrane phospholipid peroxidation and liver lipid metabohsm in mice, Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem., 63, 2118-2122, 1999. 

Curcumin and turmeric protect the liver against several toxicants both in vitro and in vivo. Reddy and Lokesh (1992) found that oral administration of curcumin (30mg/kg body weight) for 10 days lowered the liver and serum lipid peroxide levels, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), enhanced by i.p. injection of iron in rats. 

One example that can demonstrate the effectiveness and great promise of nanoencapsulation is the curcumin nanoemulsions. Curcumin is the major yellow pigment in turmeric Curcuma longa Linn). In South and Southeast Asia, curcumin preparation or turmeric has been used extensively to treat inflammatory conditions and chronic diseases (Reddy and Rao 2003). Orally administered curcumin usually has low systemic bioavailability. Only trace amounts of curcumin (or its metabolites) appear in the blood, and most of ingested curcumin is excreted in the feces. One reason is that curcumin has low solubility and does not disperse for absorption. The absorbed curcumin is rapidly metabolized in the intestine and liver to several reduction products (di-, tetra-, and hexa-hydrocurcumin and hexahydrocurcuminol) and... 

The turmeric rhizome is a main ingredient of curry powder. It gives color and flavor to food, and it has aromatic, stimulant, and carminative properties. This herb is used traditionally in India to treat biliary disorders, anorexia, cough, diabetic wounds, liver disorders, rheumatism, and sinusitis and in China for abdominal pains and jaundice. Turmeric has a protective effect on the liver, stimulates bile secretion in animals, and is recommended for use in liver disorders. 

Soni, K.B., Rajan, A., and Kuttan, R., Reversal of aflatoxin induced liver damage by turmeric and curcumin, Cancer Lett., 66 (2) 115-121, 1992. 

When various spices were screened for their ability to potentiate the typical carcinogen-detoxifying enzyme GST in Swiss mice, cumin seeds (Cuminum cyminum Linn.), basil leaves (Ocimum sanctum Linn.), and turmeric increased the enzyme activity by more than 78% in the stomach, liver, and esophagus. GSH levels were also significantly elevated in all three organs by these plant products. These spices also significantly suppressed the chromosome aberrations caused by BaP in mouse bone-marrow cells. In a subsequent study, cumin seeds and basil leaves significantly decreased the incidence of both BaP-induced squamous cell carcinomas in the stomach of Swiss mice and 3 -methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene-induced hepatomas in Wistar rats. ... 

Significant decreases in testis weight and serum testosterone were observed in rats subcutaneously administered 1 ml of a concentrated ethanol extract of turmeric (equivalent to 50 mg powder) daily for 10 days. No changes in liver, kidney, or spleen morphology were observed (Rao and Kotagi 1984). 

Histopathological changes were observed in the livers of mice administered whole turmeric at doses of 0.2,1.0, or 5.0% of the diet or turmeric ethanolic extracts at doses of 0.05 or 0.25% of the diet for 14 days (Kandarkar et al. 1998). 

A decrease in the levels of liver lipid peroxides were observed in mice administered 4 mg/kg (10% curcumin) daily of turmeric hydroalcoholic extract for 4 weeks. No toxic effects of the turmeric were observed (Miquel et al. 1995). 

In mice and rats administered turmeric oleoresin (79-85% curcumin) daily in food at doses of 0,1000,5000,10,000, 25,000, or 50,000 ppm (equivalent to average daily doses of 50, 250,480,1300, or 2600 mg/kg in males and 60, 300,550,1450, or 2800 mg/kg in females) for 13 weeks, an increase in liver weights was observed at the 5000 ppm dose and above no histopathological lesions were observed, nor were there any significant differences in hematology, clinical chemistry, or urinalysis parameters, although some animals were noted to have stained fur and discolored feces and urine (NTP1993). 

Dose-related increases in liver and thyroid weight were reported in pigs administered 60,296, or 1551 mg/kg of turmeric oleoresin daily for 102 days. Inflammation of the bile duct, thyroid hyperplasia, and epithelial changes in the kidney and urinary bladder were observed in the two higher dose groups (Bille et al. 1985). 

Curcumin, turmeric yellow, diferuloylmethaae a yellow pigment from the roots and pods of Curcuma longa L., which is cultivated in Southeast Asia. The dried root is used medicinally for liver and bile ailments, and is a component of curry powder. C. is used as a food color, as a textile dye, as a pH indicator (curcumin-boric acid paper), and as a test reagent... 

Reddy, A.C.P. and Lokesh, B.R. 1994b. Effect of dietary turmeric (Curcuma longa) on iron-induced lipid peroxidation in the rat liver. Food Chem. Toxicol, 32 279 2S3. 

White turmeric oil microsphere Essenticd oil Continued discharge and elevated bioavailability Liver protective... 

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