Curcumin

Orange-yellow substance that is almost insoluble in water, slightly soluble in ethanol and ether.

Curcumin is an orange-yellow natural dye (flavonoid) extracted from Curcumae longae rhizoma, the rhizomes of Curcuma longa , which is obtained from turmeric roots cultivated and extracted in India and southern China.

Curcumin has a strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effect (Panahi Y eet al. (2019).

Furthermore, it could be used in various applications. Furthermore, a cardioprotective effect could be proven in various experiments. Curcumin lowers the total cholesterol level, promotes wound healing by activating growth factors, and has neuroprotective effects in animal experiments. In the intestinal epithelium, curcumin can significantly reduce the expression of the CXCL1 and CXCL2 genes, which is increased by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU).

Several studies have been conducted to test extracts of curcuma species in patients with osteoarthritis. These patients showed an improvement in pain, physical function and quality of life after taking curcumin. They also reported a reduced simultaneous use of analgesics and side effects during treatment.

In vitro studies showed that curcumin can prevent the apoptosis of chondrocytes, suppress the release of proteoglycans and metal metalloproteases and the expression of cyclooxygenase, prostaglandin E-2 and inflammatory cytokines in chondrocytes (Chin KY 2016).

The anti-inflammatory mechanism of curcumin has not yet been fully elucidated. An inhibition of the interleukins-1β has been proven. The inhibitory effect of curcumin on inflammatory activation is apparently specific for the NLRP3 inflammasome, but not for the NLRC4 or AIM2 inflammasome (Yin H et al. 2018).

Colouring agent for filter papers (curcuma paper)

Antioxidant food additive (E 100 ).

As an antioxidant, curcumin inhibits leukotriene synthesis (see leukotrienes; IL-1 /Yin H et al. 2018) and prostate glandin synthesis.

Curcumin appears to improve osteoarthritis pain (Chin KY 2016)

Curcumin has protective effects on UV-induced skin damage (Panahi Y eet al. 2019).

1. Chin KY (2016) The spice for joint inflammation: anti-inflammatory role of curcumin in treating osteoarthritis. Drug of Devel Ther10:3029-3042.
2. Panahi Y eet al (2019) Evidence of curcumin and curcumin analogue effects in skin diseases: A narrative review.J Cell Physiol 234:1165-1178.
3. Sahebkar A (2014) A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials investigating the effects of curcumin on blood lipid levels. Clin Nutr 33:406-414.
4. Tejada S et al (2016) Wound Healing Effects of Curcumin: A Short Review. Curr Pharm Biotechnol 17:1002-1007.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27640646
5. Yao M et al (2015) Neurological recovery and antioxidant effects of curcumin for spinal cord injury in the rat: a network meta-analysis and systematic review. J Neurotrauma 32:381-391.

6. Yin H et al (2018) Curcumin Suppresses IL-1β Secretion and Prevents Inflammation through Inhibition of the NLRP3 Inflammasome. J Immunol 200:2835-2846.