Turmeric is a flowering plant that is harvested for its rhizomes. It is commonly used as a spice in Asian and Indian cuisine and has a long history of use in traditional medicine. Curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, is a strong antioxidant that can help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation. It may help prevent or treat several diseases associated with these processes, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and arthritis.

1. Turmeric
Pennington Biomedical Research Center Pennington Nutrition Series Number 91
A b o u t Tu r m e r i c
It has creeping tuberous rhizomes that are In this issue:
harvested for food. It is distributed throughout
tropical and subtropical regions of the world,
such as Asia, Africa and the Americas. The
Turmeric , oxidative 2
rhizomes are harvested and processed before
stress and
they are ground to yield the yellow powder
inflammation
known as turmeric. The yellow colored
compound of turmeric was isolated in 1842 and Turmeric and 2
was named curcumin. There are several Alzheimer’s disease
curcuminoids that have slightly different
chemical structures. The curcuminoids are
Turmeric and 3
phenols and hence are strong antioxidants.
cancer
However, turmeric and curcuminoids are non-
toxic.
Turmeric and 3
Because of its chemical structure, curcumin is a arthritis
strong antioxidant and free radical scavenger
and can therefore prevent diseases that involve
damage caused by free radicals. Turmeric and 3
blood glucose and
There are many uses for turmeric in the lipids
Turmeric root traditional Asian and Indian medicine.
Turmeric is used in cases of biliary disorders, Turmeric and 4
Turmeric, known as Curcuma longa L., belongs intestinal disorders, anorexia, cough, diabetic traditional uses
to the Zingiberaceae or ginger family. It is a wounds, hepatic disorder, pain, rheumatism and
flowering plant, a perennial herb that measures sinusitis, cancer, psoriasis and Alzheimer’s
about 40 inches in height and has white flowers. disease.
Special points of
interest:
Turmeric is a strong
C u l i n a r y u s e s o f Tu r m e r i c antioxidant.
As a yellow color and flavor to and sauces. Turmeric is used
powder, foods. It is rarely used alone, in meat, poultry and fish in Turmeric affects
turmeric but is combined with several addition to vegetables dishes. thousands of genes.
has been other spices to make It is used for its color and taste
Turmeric is used as
used as a vegetarian and non-vegetarian in foods, and as a fresh root, it
a spice in food, as a
spice in vegetable and meat curries, sauces and spice can be added to beverages
coloring agent and
preparations in many Asian blends. In prepared foods, such as tea for its medicinal
in medicine.
countries for centuries. turmeric is used in mustard, effects. Turmeric is non-toxic
Turmeric adds a distinctive mayonnaise, chutneys, pickles and can be consumed daily.

2. PNS No. 91 Turmeric
Tu r m e r i c , ox i d a t i v e s t r e s s a n d i n f l a m m a t i o n
Inflammation is caused by the for cardiovascular disease, can- rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis,
release of chemicals in the cer, diabetes, Alzheimer's and cancer and asthma, and by ex-
cells called inflammatory cyto- alcoholic liver disease. Curcu- ternal stressors. Curcuminoids
kines. Oxidative stress is the minoids can also improve the can inhibit NF-kappa B, a fac-
build up of free radicals in antioxidant status in the body tor that is involved in stimula-
cells. Curcuminoids, due to by increasing the circulation of tion of the immune system
their structure that contains antioxidant vitamins C and E, when an individual is subjected
benzene rings and hydroxyl and enhancing other enzyme to stresses such as radiation or
groups, are strong anti- systems. infection. Curcuminoids stop
oxidants and can reduce the the immune system from re-
Curcuminoids have been
Turmeric is a concentration of free radical sponding by blocking a reac-
widely used shown to suppress the produc-
compounds such as hydroxyl tion that would lead to a host of
spice. tion of a number of inflamma-
radicals, superoxide radicals, negative responses. They also
tory cytokines including tumor
singlet oxygen and nitric oxide decrease the levels of inflam-
necrosis factor, interleukin-1,
in biological systems. Elimi- matory prostaglandins E(1), E
interleukin-8, interleukin-12
nating these reactive oxygen (2), F(2a) and D(2) that cause
and chemokines that are re-
species can help prevent LDL pain, fever and blood clotting.
leased in conditions such as
oxidation and reduce the risk
Tu r m e r i c a n d A l z h e i m e r ’s D i s e a s e
The incidence of neurogenera- curcumin. Each has been
forms neurotoxic plaques in the
tive diseases is expected to shown to be effective in reduc-
brain seen in Alzheimers dis-
grow as the population ages. ing inflammation and modulat-
ease patients. ABP destroys
Many of these, including Alz- ing harmful compounds in
normal brain cells but treat-
heimer’s disease have been cells.
ment with curcumin stops the
linked to inflammation and
Curcumin, the polyphenol in process. Treatment with curcu-
oxidative stress. Not only is
turmeric affects many proteins min makes the amyloid ABP
Alzheimer’s is a Alzheimers linked to oxidative
in the cell and influences a host less stable, at least in cell cul-
difficult diagno- stress but currently at least
sis for the
of cellular pathways. It has tures. In addition, curcumin
four genes have been linked to
person and been shown to be effective in treatment reduces ABP produc-
the prevalence of Alzheimers.
their family. reducing Alzheimer’s disease tion by inhibiting an enzyme
Several natural compounds in
pathologies. As Alzheimer's that is essential for its produc-
plants look promising as treat-
progresses, there is a formation tion, as well as causing other
ments for diseases such as Alz-
of amyloid beta-protein (ABP) cellular changes that interfere
heimer’s disease. Many plant
plaques in the brain. There are with ABP maturation. In addi-
compounds have been found to
two different types of ABP’s in tion, curcumin influences ABP
be strong antioxidants that
the brain. Studies show that at the genetic level by decreas-
reduce oxidative stress in cells
curcumin significantly reduces ing its production.
including resveratrol, epigallo-
the more harmful type that
catechin gallate, genistein and

3. PNS No. 91 Turmeric
Tu r m e r i c a n d c a n c e r
Both epidemiological evidence reduce new blood vessel for- ney, pancreatic and prostate can-
and clinical trials have shown that mation, and increase the proteins cers, leukemia, melanoma, and
diet high in turmeric is protective in a cell that are responsible for its osteosarcoma. Turmeric is a
member of the
against certain types of cancers. own demise. Because of these
A study in cell culture revealed ginger family.
Research findings indicate that the properties, it can be used to treat
that turmeric was in fact a highly
compounds in turmeric are very cancer. In particular, curcumin
potent agent against osteosarcoma
effective in combatting cancer in seems to be involved in regulating
cells by eliminating all cells after
many ways. They inhibit the for- the expression of genes implicated
treatment with an extract.
mation of chemicals in the cell in cell growth, cell transformation,
that allow cancerous changes and chemotherapy resistance, and in In addition to curcumin itself being
increase chemicals that inhibit the formation and development of able to kill cancer cells, it also
them. Curcumin, a polyphenol in new blood vessels. Curcumin enhances the action of convention-
turmeric, increases components in seems to be effective in many al drugs used to treat cancer by
cells that hasten irregular cell types of malignancies including making the cells more sensitive to
death, stop abnormal cell growth, brain, breast, cervical, colon, kid- the drugs.
Tu r m e r i c a n d a r t h r i t i s
Arthritis is inflammation of one or an anti-inflammatory agent and to 100% in treated animals. Curcu-
more joints. A joint is the area can therefore relieve symptoms in minoids and essential oils are more
where two bones meet. There are conditions that are due to inflam- effective if the treatment starts
over 100 different types of arthri- mation. Both the curcuminoids and before the joint is inflamed. In
tis. The inflammation in the joints essential oils of turmeric have been addition, curcuminoids also pre-
causes breakdown of the cartilage, found to be useful in reducing vent bone destruction by suppress-
stiffness and swelling. There are arthritic symptoms. Curcuminoids ing genes that are involved in bone
many types of conventional medi- reduce the synthesis of inflamma- turnover. Curcuminoids also help
cations as well as dietary supple- tory molecules in the body that to maintain bone mineral content,
ments used to treat arthritis. One cause arthritis. In animal studies, leading to reduced incidence of
of those is turmeric. Turmeric is joint inflammation was reduced up osteoporosis.
Turmeric
can reduce
Tu r m e r i c a n d b l o o d g l u c o s e a n d l i p i d s inflammation.
The metabolic syndrome is a clus- fed to diabetic mice in controlled feeding phase. The control animals
tering of several factors such as feeding studies led to decreased had an increase in blood glucose
obesity, diabetes, hypertension and blood glucose levels in mice re- throughout the study. When the
its hallmarks are central obesity, ceiving various levels of turmeric animals were assessed for changes
high blood lipids, glucose and for four weeks compared to the in gene expression, over 1100
insulin levels. Metabolic syn- control group. In another study, genes were found to be affected.
drome can lead to diabetes without despite food intake being the same, There were several genes in glu-
treatment. There are several drugs the animals fed turmeric at various cose metabolism, fatty acid synthe-
that are used to treat blood lipids concentrations vs control diets, sis, and fat and cholesterol metab-
and insulin levels. Turmeric has gained less weight and had smaller olism that were influenced by tur-
the potential to be used as a natu- abdominal fat stores. They were meric feeding. Turmeric feeding
ral compound to stabilize blood also able to maintain their blood had a positive effect on glucose
lipids and glucose levels. Turmeric glucose levels normal during the and lipid levels in mice.

4. Tu r m e r i c a n d t r a d i t i o n a l u s e s
Turmeric has been grown in India and the to the skin for the prevention and cure of skin
other far eastern nations for over 4000 years conditions and ingested for clearing hepatic
and it has been used as a culinary stable in conditions, ulcers and digestive disorders. It
many cultures. It also has a place in many has also been used in the treatment of
religious ceremonies. In Hinduism it is intestinal parasites and as a remedy for
important particularly at weddings where a poisoning, snakebites, and various other
necklace of turmeric is used in place of a complaints. Current traditional Asian
wedding ring. It is used as a dye for holy medicine uses it against biliary disorders,
robes and as a paste to decorate the skin for anorexia, coryza, cough, diabetic wounds,
religious events. hepatic disorder, rheumatism and sinusitis.
Turmeric has been used in Ayur Vedic Turmeric is also used for skincare. It is used
Turmeric is used as coloring for the
medicine and traditional Asian and African to brighten the skin, clean and exfoliate and
turban.
systems of medicine to treat a wide variety reduce fine lines and wrinkles. It is also used
of ailments including arthritis, ulcers, for acne and to reduce oiliness.
jaundice, wounds, fever, trauma as well as
skin diseases such as psoriasis. It is applied
Pennington Biomedical Research Center Sources:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
VISION
Aggarwal, S et al. Int. J. Cancer (2004) 111, 679-692.
Our vision is to lead the world in eliminating chronic diseases.
Funk, JL et al. J. Agric. Food chem. (2010) 58, 842-849.
MISSION Funk, JL et al. J. Nat. Prod. (2006) 69, 351-355.
Our mission is to discover the triggers of chronic diseases through innovative research that Hatchera, H et al. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 65 (2008) 1631 – 1652
improves human health across the lifespan. We are helping people live Well Beyond the Negi, PS et al. J Agric. Food Chem. (1999) 47, 4297-4300.
Expected. Wright, LE et al. J Agric. Food Chem. (2010) 58, 9498-9504.
The Pennington Center has several research areas, including: Xiong, Z et al. Pharmacological Reports (2011) 63, 1101-1108.
Ye, M-X, et al. Int. J. Mol. Sci. (2012) 13, 3959-3978.
Clinical Obesity Research
Zhang, C et al. J. Biol. Chem. (2010) 285, 28472-28480.
Experimental Obesity
Zhou H et al. Curr. Drug Targets (2012) 12(3), 332-337.
Functional Foods
Honda, S et al. J Agric. Food Chem. (2006) 54,9055-9062.
Health and Performance Enhancement
Nishiyama,T et al. J Agric. Food Chem. (2005) 53, 959-963.
Nutrition and Chronic Diseases
Nutrition and the Brain
Dementia, Alzheimer’s and healthy aging
Pennington Nutrition Series No 91
Diet, exercise, weight loss and weight loss maintenance
The research fostered in these areas can have a profound impact on healthy living and on the Author
prevention of common chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, hypertension
and osteoporosis.
Heli J. Roy, PhD, MBA, RD
Division of Education
The Division of Education provides education and information to the scientific community
and the public about research findings, training programs and research areas, and coordinates Pennington Biomedical Research Center
educational events for the public on various health issues.
We invite people of all ages and backgrounds to participate in the exciting research studies
Reviewed by Dr. Sita Aggarwal
being conducted at the Pennington Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. If you would like to
take part, visit the clinical trials web page at www.pbrc.edu or call (225) 763-3000.
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