Here is an essay on ‘Turmeric’ for class 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Find paragraphs, long and short essays on ‘Turmeric’ especially written for school and college students.
Essay on Turmeric
1. Essay on Turmeric (As an Anti-Ageing):
Turmeric for example, has been prescribed in the literature of Ayurveda (“science of long life”) for a wide variety of ailments including obesity, dating from about 3000 BC. In addition to the polyphenols found in walnuts and berry fruits, curcuminoids found in the curry spice turmeric may have similar effects. The biophenolic curcumin, a food preservative, inhibitor of lipid peroxidation with potent anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities has a long history of use in Asian traditional medicines.
Curcumin induces cellular stress responses in normal human skin fibroblasts through phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT pathway and redox signaling, supporting the view that curcumin-induced hormetic stimulation of cellular antioxidant defenses can be a useful approach toward anti-ageing intervention.
Curcumin from turmeric reduces the elevated oxidative and lipid-mediated stress associated with inflammation, obesity, and atherosclerosis. Zingg et al (2013) are of the opinion that at the cellular level, curcumin may induce a mild oxidative and lipid-metabolic stress leading to an adaptive cellular stress response by hormetic stimulation of cellular antioxidant defense systems and lipid metabolic enzymes.
The resulting lower oxidative and lipid-mediated stress may not only explain the beneficial effects of curcumin on inflammation, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative disease, but may also contribute to the increase in maximum life-span observed in animal models.
2. Essay on Turmeric (As an Anti-Allergic):
Turmeric is known for its multiple health benefits and has been used in treating several diseases including respiratory disorders. The active component of turmeric is curcumin, a polyphenolic phytochemical, with anti-inflammatory, anti-amyloid, antiseptic, anti-tumor, and anti-oxidative properties.
In the last two decades, curcumin has been shown to be a potent immune-modulatory agent that can modulate the activation of T cells, B cells, macrophages, neutrophils, natural killer cells, and dendritic cells. Curcumin can also down-regulate the expression of various pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF, IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, and chemokines, most likely through inactivation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB.
The inhibitory effect of curcumin on histamine release from mast cells is responsible for its anti-allergic properties. Intragastric treatment of latex-sensitized mice with curcumin demonstrated a diminished Th2 response with a concurrent reduction in lung inflammation. Eosinophilia was markedly reduced along with a reduction in the co-stimulatory molecule expression (CD80, CD86, and OX40L) on antigen-presenting cells, and expression of MMP-9, OAT, and TSLP genes.
Oh et al (2011) also observed that treatment with curcumin significantly attenuated airway hyper responsiveness (AHR) and reduced the numbers of total leukocytes and eosinophils in broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. Infiltration of inflammatory cells and mucus occlusions in lung tissue were also significantly ameliorated, along with a decreased level of IgE in BAL fluid. Curcumin attenuates the development of allergic airway inflammation and development of asthma possibly through inhibition of NF-κB activation in the asthmatic lung tissue.
3. Essay on Turmeric (As an Anti-Carcinogenic):
Turmeric has been shown to inhibit chemical carcinogenesis. Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is an anti-oxidant extract from the spice turmeric that produces a wide range of health benefits. The activity of curcumin reported against leukemia and lymphoma, gastrointestinal cancers, genitourinary cancers, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, lung cancer, melanoma, neurological cancers, and sarcoma reflects its ability to affect multiple targets.
Recently, curcumin’s therapeutic potential for preventing and treating various cancers is being recognized and explored more systematically in various diseases. Due to its increased bioavailability in the gastro-intestinal tract, curcumin may be particularly suited to treat gastro-intestinal diseases.
Curcumin has been found to inhibit colon cancer cell proliferation in vitro mainly by accumulating cells in the G2/M phase and that this effect is independent of its ability to inhibit prostaglandin synthesis. Hanif et al. (1997) opined that inhibition of arachidonic acid metabolism by curcumin might be responsible for the effect. It was later confirmed by Huang et al. (1997) who demonstrated that curcumin is a strong inhibitor of arachidonic acid-induced edema of mouse ears in vivo and epidermal cyclo-oxygenase and lipoxygenase activities in vitro.
Further, curcumin is found to suppress NF-κB activation and down-regulate the expression of NF-κB-regulated gene products involved in survival, proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis of the tumor. Nuclear transcription factor- kB (NF-kappaB) is known to regulate cell survival, proliferation, tumorigenesis, and inflammation. Plummer et al (1999) showed that curcumin inhibits COX-2 expression in colon cells by inhibition of NF-κB activation via the NIK/IKK signaling complex.
This phytochemical has been shown to modulate various mechanisms linked with radio- resistance, such as quenching reactive oxygen species, down- regulating COX-2, multi-drug resistance protein Bcl-2, and surviving expression, inhibiting phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT activation, suppressing growth factor signaling pathways, Inhibiting signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 activation.
Proliferation of various pancreatic cancer cell lines has been inhibited in the apoptosis induced by gemcitabine and inhibited constitutive NF-kappaB activation in the cells in vitro. Tumors from mice injected with pancreatic cancer cells and treated with a combination of curcumin and gemcitabine in vivo, showed significant reductions in volume (P = 0.008 versus control; P = 0.036 versus gemcitabine alone), Ki-67 proliferation index, NF-kappaB activation, and expression of NF-kappaB- regulated gene products compared with tumors from control mice.
The combination treatment was also highly effective in suppressing angiogenesis as indicated by a decrease in CD31(+) micro vessel density. Curcumin also potentiates the anti-tumor effects of radiation therapy in colorectal cancer by suppressing NF-kappaB and NF-kappaB-regulated gene products, leading to inhibition of proliferation and angiogenesis. In addition, it sensitized colorectal cancer to the anti-tumor and anti-metastatic effects of capecitabine by suppressing NF-kappaB cell signaling pathway.
Curcumin has also shown some promise in the prevention of oral carcinogenesis. In the 7, 12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) hamster buccal pouch model of carcinogenesis, curcumin alone or when administered together with piperine significantly reduced the formation of oral carcinoma, probably due to its anti-lipid peroxidative and anti-oxidant potential together with its effect on modulating carcinogen detoxification.
Cancer researchers are currently focusing on agents that induce apoptosis as the next generation of cancer drugs. The most effective component available to induce apoptosis may be curcumin. Interestingly, curcumin acts like a “hypnotist” with cancer cells, tricking them into programming their own destruction. Thus, curcumin induces cancer cell apoptosis.
In a wide range of cancer cells, curcumin has been shown to induce cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation and block cellular signal transduction, all of which are characteristics of apoptosis. Curcumin inhibits tumor genesis during both initiation and promotion (post- initiation) periods in several experimental animal models.
Topical application of curcumin inhibits TPA-induced increases in the per cent of epidermal cells in synthetic (S) phase of the cell cycle. A dose of 1.5 grams of turmeric per day for 30 days caused a significant reduction in the amount of mutagens excreted in the urine of smokers.
Nagabhushan and his colleagues (1987, 1988 and 1992) have shown that the curcumin in turmeric can inhibit the mutagenicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), inhibit radiation-induced chromosome damage, prevent the formation of harmful heterocyclic amines and nitroso compounds, which may result in the body when certain processed foods, such as processed meat products that contain nitrosamines, are eaten and irreversibly inhibit the multiplication of leukemia cells in a cell culture.
Curcumin present at micromolar concentration is able to inhibit the growth of estrogen-positive human breast MCF-7 cells induced individually or by a mixture of the pesticides endosulfane, DDT and chlordane or 17-beta estradiol. When curcumin and genistein were added together to MCF-7 cells, a synergistic effect resulting in a total inhibition of the induction of MCF-7 cells by the high estrogenic activity of endosulfane/chlordane/DDT mixtures was noted.
Thus, it is evident that the combination of curcumin and genistein in the diet has the potential to reduce the proliferation of estrogen positive cells by mixtures of pesticides or 17-beta estradiol. Since it is difficult to remove pesticides completely from the environment or the diet and since both turmeric and soybeans are not toxic to humans, their inclusion in the diet in order to prevent hormone related cancers deserves consideration. Curcumin and catechin inhibit the invasion of B16F-10 melanoma cells in mice by inhibition of metallo-proteinases, thereby inhibiting lung metastasis.
Curcumin significantly inhibited pulmonary and liver adenoma formation and growth in BALB/c mice. The precise mechanism by which curcumin inhibits lung and liver tumor genesis remains to be elucidated. Thus, curcumin appears to be a promising new chemotherapeutic and preventive agent for lung and liver cancer induced by DHPN.
Curcumin has profound immunosuppressive effects mediated via inhibition of IL-2 synthesis; mitogen and IL-2 induced activation of human lymphocytes. This effect may be mediated via NF-kappaB inhibition.
Curcumin acts upon oxidative stress in human breast epithelial cells transformed by the effect of radiation in the presence of estrogen. Numerous other studies have noted significant anti-prostate cancer activity by curcumin. Curcumin is well-tolerated; the most common side effects are nausea and diarrhea.
Theoretical interactions exist due to purported effects on metabolic enzymes and transport proteins, but clinical reports do not support any meaningful interactions. Nonetheless, caution, especially with chemotherapy agents, is advised. Late-phase clinical trials are still needed to confirm most beneficial effects.
4. Essay on Turmeric (As an Anti-Cognitive Impairment):
Recent evidence suggests that curcumin, an active principle of turmeric, has potential for neuro-protective efficacy as it activates a key enzyme that protects the brain against oxidation which is thought to be a major factor responsible for neurodegenerative disorders in ageing like Alzheimer’s disease. Curcumin protects retinal neurons and micro-vessels against I/R injury. The beneficial effects of curcumin on neurovascular degeneration may occur through its inhibitory effects on injury-induced activation of NF- κB and STAT3, and on over-expression of MCP-1. Curcumin may therefore serve as a promising candidate for retinal ischemic diseases.
Curcumin possesses multiple desirable characteristics required for a neuroprotective drug such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-protein-aggregate activities. Rathore et al (2008) reported that pre-treatment with curcuma oil, isolated from powdered rhizomes of C. longa, and significantly reduced the levels of mitochondrial membrane potential, reactive oxygen species, peroxy-nitrite levels, caspase-3 activities leading to delayed neuronal death. Further; there is attenuation of delayed neuronal death via a caspase-dependent pathway. This illustrates the neuroprotective activity of the oil against cerebral ischemia.
Evidence for an impact on ageing brain has been recently produced in rats, where chronic curcumin treatment was shown to result in reduced lipid peroxidation, accumulation of the pigment lipofuscin and to increase the anti-oxidant defense enzymes glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase as well as sodium potassium ATPase, which normally decline.
Curcumin dose dependently improved cerebral blood flow in streptozotocin treated mice together with amelioration of memory impairment both in preventive and therapeutic manner. Curcumin has at least 10 known neuroprotective actions and many of these might be realized in vivo.
Indeed, accumulating cell culture and animal model data show that dietary curcumin is a strong candidate for use in the prevention or treatment of major disabling age-related neuro-degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and stroke. Promising results have already led to ongoing pilot clinical trials.
5. Essay on Turmeric (As an Anti-Fertility Food)
C. longa treatment causes reversible suppression of spermatogenesis and fertility, thereby suggesting the potential of this plant in the regulation of male fertility. Incubation of sperm with curcumin caused a concentration- dependent decrease in sperm forward motility, capacitation/acrosome reaction, and murine fertilization in vitro. At higher concentrations, there was a complete block of sperm motility and function within 5-15 min.
Administration of curcumin, especially intravaginally, caused a significant (P < 0.001) reduction in fertility. The antifertility effect of curcumin was reversible. This is the first study to report the inhibitory effect of curcumin on sperm function, fertilization, and fertility. The findings suggest that curcumin may constitute a double-edged sword to block conception, infection, and cancer, thus providing an ideal contraceptive.
5. Essay on Turmeric (As an Anti-Hyperlipidemic Foods)
Curcumin lowers total cholesterol levels. Perhaps even more important, it prevents peroxidation of LDL cholesterol. Since curcumin is an anti-oxidant it is capable of destroying the free radicals that lead to lipid peroxidation. It raises HDL cholesterol levels, even as it reduces LDL levels. Srivastava et al. (1985) have shown turmeric to be able to reduce platelets from clumping together, which in turn improves circulation and may help protect against atherosclerosis.
In a small study of human volunteers, Mesa et al (2003) reported a highly significant 29 per cent increase in HDL among subjects who consumed 500 mg of curcumin per day for seven days. Subjects also experienced a decrease in total serum cholesterol of more than 11 per cent, and a decrease in serum lipid peroxides of 33 per cent. Though further human studies are needed, these findings are promising. In laboratory tests on animals and in vitro, scientists have shown that curcumin prevents lipid peroxidation and the oxidation of cellular and subcellular membranes that are associated with atherosclerosis.
Researchers in Egypt noted that curcumin protected rats from oxidative stress injury following experimentally induced stroke. But rats fed a diet causing high blood sugar, when received high doses of curcumin actually developed cataracts somewhat faster, possibly due to increased oxidative stress. Mesa et al (2003) also noted that curcumin may prevent the effects caused by a high fat diet on cholesterol during development of atherosclerosis.
Very recently it has been found that curcumin pretreatment attenuates the I/R injury as evidenced by – (a) loss of cardiac mechanical work, (b) oxidant stress (increase in lipid peroxidation and decrease in reduced glutathione content) and (c) decrease in the activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase in both cardiac tissue and isolated mitochondria, and (d) decrease in mitochondrial respiratory capacity.
6. Essay on Turmeric (As an Anti-Inflammatory Foods)
Curcumin, the principal curcumoid of the popular Indian spice turmeric, has been demonstrated as an anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti- carcinogenic properties; and has been used to treat cancer, arthritis, digestive and liver abnormalities and respiratory infections. Although the precise mechanism by which curcumin mediate its beneficial effects in these model systems is not clear, it has been suggested that the modulation of both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors may be involved.
Ramadan et al. (2011) proved the anti-inflammatory/anti-oxidant activity of turmeric over ginger and indomethacin, all of which may have beneficial effects against rheumatoid arthritis -onset/progression as shown in AIA rat model. The anti-inflammatory effects of turmeric have been shown to be comparable with drugs such as hydrocortisone and Motrin, but yet without having any of the side effects.
Turmeric has been found to be beneficial in various inflammatory diseases. Avasarala et al. (2013) strongly supported the role of curcumin in modulating the pathogenesis of viral-induced Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in a pre-clinical model through the alteration of inflammation and myofibroblast differentiation.
Koosirirat et al. (2010) concluded from his study that curcumin alone may have limited anti-bactericidal effect on H. pylori, and on the production of inflammatory cytokines. Taylor and Leonard (2011) on the basis of the database evaluated the use of curcumin in inflammatory bowel disease (including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease). The authors concluded that in addition to improvement in ulcerative colitis, curcumin may pose a less-expensive alternative when used in conjunction with conventional medications.
Pruritus is a common symptom of several skin infections. Curcumin supplementation has been proved to successfully alleviate the itching sensation in patients suffering from chronic SM-induced cutaneous complications.
Further, the cumulative administration of curcumin and quercetin- flavonoids present in turmeric was reported to be more beneficial in oxidative stress and inflammation than their individual use, thus suggesting their synergistic effect.
Obesity and type 2 diabetes are recently recognized as inflammatory conditions. Surprisingly, the oral administration of curcumin was found to reverse the inflammatory responses in obese mouse models while improving glycemic control in Type 2 diabetes models. Moreover, Kunnumakkara et al (2008) have reported curcumin to be pharmacologically quite safe.
According to Aggarwal (2010), curcumin directly interacts with adipocytes, pancreatic cells, hepatic stellate cells, macrophages, and muscle cells. In these cells it suppresses the pro-inflammatory transcription factors -kappa B, signal transducer and activators of transcription-3, and Wnt/beta-catenin; and activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor- gamma and Nrf2 cell-signaling pathways, thus leading to the down-regulation of adipokines, including tumor necrosis factor interleukin-6, resistin, leptin, and monocyte chemotactic protein-1, and the up-regulation of adiponectin and other gene products.
These curcumin-induced alterations reverse insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, hyper-lipidemia, and other symptoms linked to obesity. Shehzad et al (2011) recommended that these results enable translation of curcumin to the clinical practice for the treatment and prevention of obesity-related chronic diseases.
Several in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that curcumin inhibits activation of the TLR-4 and NF- κB pro-inflammatory signaling pathways in diverse cell types including macrophages, implicated in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. Woo et al. (2007) have shown that curcumin treatment prevents macrophage activation during co-culture with adipocytes in vitro.
Curcumin inhibited the IL-1beta-induced stimulation of up-stream protein kinase B Akt. These events correlated with down-regulation of NF-kappaB targets including COX-2 and MMP-9. Similar results were obtained in chondrocytes stimulated with TNF-alpha. Curcumin also reversed the IL-1beta-induced down-regulation of collagen type II and beta 1-integrin receptor expression. These results indicate that curcumin has nutritional potential as a naturally occurring anti-inflammatory agent for treating OA through suppression of NF-kappaB mediated IL-1 beta/TNF-alpha catabolic signalling pathways in chondrocytes.
7. Essay on Turmeric (As an Antimicrobial Foods)
Recently, some remarkable studies have been conducted on the effects of curcumin (Turmeric), the phenolic form of Curcuma longa plant, on virulence factors of P. aeruginosa. Karaman et al. (2013) used two strains of P. aeruginosa isolated from deep oropharyngeal swab from two cystic fibrosis patients to assess the effect of curcumin on biofilm formation. No increase in biofilm optical density was observed, thus supporting the promising inhibitory effect of curcumin on P. aeruginosa biofilms.
Lee et al. (2011) found that turmeric essential oil inhibited the growth and acid production of S. mutans at concentrations from 0.5 to 4 mg/mL. The essential oil also exhibited significant inhibition of S. mutans adherence to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite beads at concentrations higher than 0.5 mg/mL. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) at which curcumin completely inhibited bacterial growth was 128 µg/mL.
The addition of curcumin below the MIC diminished bacterial adherence onto both collagen- and fibronectin-coated glass surfaces and human tooth surfaces. It appears that the anti-adhesive effect of curcumin against S. mutans is mediated through collagen and fibronectin. These results support the widespread use of curcumin as a food-based antimicrobial agent.
Dermal application of turmeric oil on the 7th day following dermatophytosis induction with T. rubrum, resulted in an improvement in infective skin lesions within 2-5 days and the lesions disappeared 6-7 days after the application. The anti-fungal activity of the 2 fractions of turmeric oil when tested against A. flavus, A. parasiticus, F. moniliforme and P. digitatum showed the fration II with turmerone and curlone to be more active.
Turmeric essential oil and the curcumin standard interfered with mycotoxin production. Both the essential oil and curcumin significantly inhibited the production of aflatoxins; the 0.5 per cent level had greater (> 96 per cent) inhibitory effect. The levels of aflatoxin B (1) production were 1.0 and 42.7 µg/mL, respectively, for the samples treated with the essential oil of C. longa and curcumin at a concentration of 0.5 per cent.
A varietal difference was observed in the antimicrobial activity of turmeric. The essential oils of C. aeruginosa, C. mangga and Z. cassumunar displayed varying degrees of antimicrobial activity against all tested micro-organisms. C. mangga oil had the highest and most broad-spectrum activity by inhibiting all micro-organisms tested, with C. neoformans being the most sensitive micro-organism by having the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum fungicidal concentration values of 0.1 µL/mL.
C. aeruginosa oil showed mild antimicrobial activity, whereas Z. cassumunar had very low or weak activity against the tested microorganisms. Thus, Kamazeri et al. (2012) demonstrated promising antimicrobial properties of C. mangga and C. aeruginosa, which may be useful for food preservation, pharmaceutical treatment and natural therapies.
Na et al. (2011) reported that the cytotoxicity of V. vulnificus to HeLa cells was significantly inhibited by curcumin (at 10 or 30 µM). Curcumin inhibited both bacterial adhesion and RTX toxin binding to the host cells, which can be considered the major protective mechanisms against the V. vulnificus cytotoxicity. Curcumin may thus be an alternative antimicrobial agent against fatal bacterial infections.
Kim et al. (2009) reported that turmeric extract represses hepatitis B virus replication by enhancing the level of p53 protein. Thus, it is confirmed that turmeric extract can be used as a safe and specific drug for patients with liver diseases caused by hepatitis B virus. The therapeutic effect of curcumin against H. pylori infection, suggests its potential as an alternative therapy, and opens the way for further studies on identification of novel antimicrobial targets of curcumin.
However, Koosirirat et al (2010) reported that curcumin alone may have limited anti-bactericidal effect on H. pylori, and on the production of inflammatory cytokines revealing a need for a stronger anti-microbial agent along with turmeric.
Curcumin exhibited broad spectrum inhibitory effect against all organisms. Its anti-bacterial activity was more pronounced against Gram-positive bacteria than Gram-negative bacteria. Furthermore, its anti-fungal activity is much better than antibacterial activity. Micro-encapsulation of curcumin extract can improve its stability, solubility and retention of antimicrobial activities, and hence can be a potential colorant and preservative in food industry.
Bhawana et al. (2011) found that the aqueous dispersion of nanocurcumin was much more effective than curcumin against S. aureus, B. subtilis, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, P. notatum, and A. niger. These results demonstrated that the water solubility and antimicrobial activity of curcumin markedly improved by particle size reduction up to the nano range. For the selected microorganisms, the activity of nanocurcumin was more pronounced against Gram-positive bacteria than Gram-negative bacteria.
Furthermore, its anti-bacterial activity was much better than anti-fungal activity. Transmission electron micrograph analysis revealed that these particles entered inside the bacterial cell by completely breaking the cell wall, leading to cell death.
Xanthorrhizol isolated from the rhizome of Curcuma xanthorrhiza showed (in vitro) activity against opportunistic filamentous fungi. The susceptibility of six species of filamentous fungi to xanthorrhizol was comparable to that of the commercial anti-fungal; amphotericin B. Xanthorrhizol also inhibited the conidial germination of all tested species. The results strongly suggested that xanthorrhizol can be developed as a natural anti-fungal agent.
8. Essay on Turmeric (As an Anti-Obesity Food)
There is convincing evidence that a large component of obesity-associated pathophysiology may stem from a low-grade pro-inflammatory state. Several spices have been shown to exhibit activity against obesity through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Among them, turmeric for example, has been described in the literature of Ayurveda (“science of long life”), dating from about 3000 BC, for a wide variety of ailments including obesity.
Curcumin, a yellow pigment derived from turmeric has been investigated most extensively as a treatment for obesity and obesity- related metabolic diseases. Curcumin has been shown to possess potent antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, and hypoglycemic properties. Weisberg et al. (2008) observed that orally ingested curcumin reversed many of the inflammatory and metabolic derangements associated with obesity and improved glycemic control in mouse models of type 2 diabetes.
Ejaz et al. (2009) reported that curcumin suppressed lipogenesis in adipose tissue which contributed to lower body fat and body weight gain suggesting that dietary curcumin may have a potential benefit in preventing obesity. Leray et al. (2011) also confirmed that highly bioavailable curcumin extract has beneficial effects, targeted in the liver and could improve the obesity-related inflammatory state.
According to Aggarwal (2010), curcumin directly interacts with adipocytes, pancreatic cells, hepatic stellate cells, macrophages, and muscle cells. There, it suppresses the pro-inflammatory transcription factors nuclear factor-kappa B, signal transducer and activators of transcription-3, and Wnt/beta-catenin signaling, and it activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma and Nrf2 cell-signaling pathways, thus leading to the down regulation of adipokines, including tumor necrosis factor interleukin-6, resistin, leptin, and monocyte chemotactic protein-1, and the up-regulation of adiponectin and other gene products.
These curcumin-induced alterations reverse insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, hyper- lipidemia, and other symptoms linked to obesity. Shehzad et al. (2011) thus recommended that these results enable translation of curcumin to the clinical practice for the treatment and prevention of obesity-related chronic diseases.
Shao et al. (2012) reported that the beneficial effect of curcumin during high fat diet consumption is mediated through attenuating lipogenic gene expression in the liver and the inflammatory response in the adipose tissue, in the absence of stimulation of Wnt signaling in mature adipocytes.
Kaur and Meena (2012) found that combining curcumin with piperine and quercetin in the high fat diet and low-dose streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats corroborate its potential in the treatment of glucose tolerance associated with excess dietary fat intake, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.
Fetuin-A is synthesized in the liver and is secreted into the bloodstream. Clinical studies suggest involvement of fetuin-A in metabolic disorders such as visceral obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes, and fatty liver. Oner-Ýyidoðan et al. (2013) confirmed that curcumin treatment to be effective in reducing liver triglycerides and serum fetuin-A levels suggesting that the reduction of fetuin-A may contribute to the beneficial effects of curcumin in the pathogenesis of obesity.
Recent scientific research reveals that curcumin directly interacts with white adipose tissue to suppress chronic inflammation. Bradford (2013) explains the diverse mechanisms by which curcumin reduces obesity and curtails the adverse health effects of obesity. In adipose tissue, curcumin inhibits macrophage infiltration and nuclear factor κB (NF- κB) activation induced by inflammatory agents.
Curcumin reduces the expression of the potent pro-inflammatory adipokines -tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), monocyte chemo-attractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1), and it induces the expression of adiponectin, the principal anti-inflammatory agent secreted by adipocytes. Curcumin inhibits adipocyte differentiation and promote anti-oxidant activities.
9. Essay on Turmeric (As an Anti-Oxidant Foods)
The biological effects of turmeric have been attributed to its constituent curcumin a phenolic compound and a major component of Curcuma longa that has been widely studied for its anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic, anti-oxidant, wound healing and anti-cancer effects.
Curcumin showed an effective scavenging of DPPH, ABTS(+), DMPD(+), superoxide anion radical, hydrogen peroxide, ferric ions (Fe3+) reducing power and ferrous ions (Fe2+) chelating activities. Further, curcumin treatment significantly and dose-dependently restored renal function, reduced lipid peroxidation; and enhanced the levels of reduced glutathione and activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase.
Curcumin has a protective effect on cisplatin-induced experimental nephrotoxicity, which is attributed to its direct anti-inflammatory and strong anti-oxidant profile. Tharakan et al. (2010) observed that curcumin is an inhibitor of vascular hyper-permeability following hemorrhagic shock, with its protective effects mediated through its anti-oxidant properties.