Curcumin is an orange-yellow component of turmeric (Curcuma longa). There has been increasing evidence this phytochemical present in turmeric has a wide spectrum of therapeutic properties and a remarkable range of protective effects in various diseases.(1) Curcumin has been shown to exhibit antioxidant, anti-cancer, antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal activities. (2)

INFLAMMATION FIGHTER

Curcumin possesses proven anti-inflammatory agent and  has been shown in the last two decades to be a powerful  immunomodulatory agent that can balance of the activities of  several types of white blood cells involved in allergic reactions. For example, it inhibits histamine release from mast cells and is a natural Cox-2 inhibitor.  (3) Curcumin also decreases the activity of many other proinflammatory agents within the body.  This suggests that curcumin may exert beneficial effects in  condition which have a strong inflammatory and immune  component to them such as arthritis, allergy, asthma, atherosclerosis, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and cancer might be due in part to its ability to modulate the immune system and inhibit undesirable inflammation.(4) 

BENEFITS THE LUNGS

Several experimental animal models have tested curcumin on lung fibrosis and these studies demonstrate that curcumin reduces lung injury and fibrosis caused by radiation, chemotherapeutic drugs, and toxicants.  Pharmacological and animal studies provide increasing amount of data from also supports the notion that curcumin plays a protective role in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute lung injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and allergic asthma because it reduces inflammation and free radical damage. (5)

REDUCES PAIN

Turmeric helps post-operative patients. In one study, patients recovering from surgery or with a hernia or an accumulation of fluid in the scrotum or spermatic cord were divided into three groups; one group received curcumin, another group received conventional medication, and the other group was given a placebo. Curcumin decreased the pain at the surgical site, local tenderness of the spermatic cord, and edema. (6) A local application of curcumin as in a poultice depletes the nerve endings of a pain chemical called "substance P," so that perception of pain from this area will be diminished or inactivated. (7)

FOSTERS TISSUE REPAIR

The curcumin found in turmeric exerts beneficial effects on muscles. (8)Not only does it reduce inflammatory activators, it strikingly assists in repairing muscle injuries by encouraging development of new muscle cells. Turmeric improves wound healing in the skin. (9.) Animal research shows that tissue repair and wound healing are faster. Curcumin helps the skin around the wounded area to receive better nutrition and make stronger repair tissue.

BRAIN PROTECTION

Curcumin not only possesses anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, also exhibits  neuro-protective properties as well.(10, 11)  For example, certain antiepileptic drugs, are well known to cause cognitive impairment on chronic use. Rodent studies reveal that concomitant curcumin administration prevented the cognitive impairment and decreased the increased oxidative stress induced by these antiepileptic drugs. (12) .Animal studies suggest that curcumin can help to reduce the inflammation that occurs in Alzheimer’s (13) and traumatic brain injury. (14) Further studies in humans are warranted.

Turmeric is generally safe. Pregnant women should not take any medicinal amounts of any herb without approval of their health care provider. Individuals taking blood thinners should not use turmeric. Anyone taking a medicine, prescribed or over-the counter, should consult with a pharmacist before using medicinal amounts of turmeric so as to avoid any possible herb-drug interaction.  Turmeric powder in vege-caps with standardized curcumin is preferable for serious inflammatory conditions.

REFERENCES:
1. Venkatesan N., et al., Protection from acute and chronic lung diseases by curcumin, Adv Exp Med Biol. 2007;595:379-405
2. Aggarwal BB, et al., Curcumin: the Indian solid gold, Adv Exp Med Biol. 2007;595:1-75.
3. Kurup VP, et al., Immunomodulatory effects of curcumin in allergy, Mol Nutr Food Res. 2008 Sep;52(9):1031-9.
4. Jagetia, GC, et al., “Spicing up” the Immune System by Curcumin, J Clin Immunol. Jan;27(1):19-35
5. Venkatesan N, et al., Protection from acute and chronic lung diseases by curcumin, Adv Exp Med Biol., 2007;595:379-405.
6. McCaleb, Robert, et al, The Encylopedia of Popular Herbs. Prima Health, Roseville, CA, 2000, p. 377
7. Wurbach, Melvyn, and Murray, Michael, Botanical Influences on Illness, Third Line Press, Tarzana, California, 1994, p. 218)
8. Thaloor, D., Systemic administration of the NF-kappa B inhibitor curcumin stimulates muscle regeneration after traumatic injury. AM J Physiol, 277 (2Pt):C 320-9, 1999.
9. Sidhu, G.S., Curcumin enhances wound healing in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats and genetically diabetic mice. Wound Repair Regen, 7(5) 362-74, 1999
10.  Harish, G., et al., Bioconjugates of curcumin display improved protection against glutathione depletion mediated oxidative stress in a dopaminergic neuronal cell line: Implications for Parkinson's disease, Bioorg Med Chem. 2010 Apr 1;18(7):2631-8
11.  Wang, R, et al. Curcumin produces neuroprotective effects via activating brain-derived neurotrophic factor/TrkB-dependent MAPK and PI-3K cascades in rodent cortical neurons, Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2010 Feb 1;34(1):147-53. Epub 2009 Oct 29.
12. Reeta, KH.Curcumin ameliorates cognitive dysfunction and oxidative damage in phenobarbitone and carbamazepine administered rats. Eur J Pharmacol. 2010 Jul 24. [
13. Wang, HM, et al., PPARgamma agonist curcumin reduces the amyloid-beta-stimulated inflammatory responses in primary astrocytes, J Alzheimers Dis. 2010;20(4):1189-99.
14. Laird, MD, et cl., Curcumin attenuates cerebral edema following traumatic brain injury in mice: a possible role for aquaporin-4?, J Neurochem. 2010 May;113(3):637-48.