Curcuminoids
In technical terms, the active constituents of turmeric also called
Curcuma longa are known as curcuminoids. A yellow pigmented
substance isolated from the rhizome (root) of Curcuma longa, it
contains approximately 3% to 5% active curcuminoids. It is this
group of compounds that are responsible for the biological action of turmeric/circumin. This active extract can be further subdivided into
three distinct components: Curcumin, Demethoxy-curcumin and
Bisdemethoxy circumin.
While each of these
chemicals has independent antioxidant activity, research conducted by
the Sabinsa Corporation has demonstrated that the most significant
benefits are achieved with the intact, naturally occurring curcuminoid
complex.
Although, a
complete discussion of the benefits of turmeric extract (with standardized
active curcuminoid content) is beyond the scope of this review, there are,
nevertheless, several particular actions that deserve special mention.
Antioxidant
Value
No review of turmeric would be complete without making specific reference to
its most significant benefit, that of an antioxidant. While you may be
aware that numerous studies have confirmed turmeric's ability to quench both
superoxide and peroxyl radicals, what you may not know is that turmeric was
found to be over 5 times more potent than alpha tocopherol (vitamin
E) at quenching a wide range of free
radicals. Since many
researchers attribute much of the aging process to the incessant damage
caused by free radicals and the subsequent decline in the body's ability to
effectively regenerate damaged cells, turmeric root certainly bears at least
thorough consideration for inclusion into your daily supplement routine.
With volumes of
research being generated each year on curcuminoids, one thing is
certain: We will uncover more and more compelling reasons why turmeric
should be incorporated into our supplements and added to our supplement
programs. With all the potential benefits that can be attributed to
curcumin intake, we feel it is imperative that we offer our customers the
highest quality curcuminoid root extract available. Our standardized
turmeric extract product contains a minimum of 95% curcuminoids including:
83.2% circumin, 9.2% demethoxycurcumin, and 2.6% bisdemethoxy curcumin.
Colorectal
Cancer Relationship
Curcumin, the pigment responsible for the yellow color of the spice
turmeric, inhibits the activity of a hormone associated with the development
of colorectal cancer.
A gastrointestinal hormone called neurotensin has been linked to the
production of an inflammatory protein that accelerates the growth of a
variety of cancer cells. About a third of all colorectal cancer cells
have the receptor for neurotensin, which is generated in response to
consumption of fat.
The researchers of the current study, which will be published in the October
issue of Clinical Cancer Research, found that this gastrointestinal hormone
reduced production of IL-8, an inflammatory protein that plays a role in the
growth and spread of a variety of human cancer cells, including colorectal
and pancreatic tumor cells.
The researchers discovered that in addition to increasing the rate of growth
of colon cancer cells neurotensin is also implicated in cell migration and
metastasis. However, all these negative effects of neurotensin were
turned off by the turmeric-derived curcumin.
The study authors noted that neurotensin's effects are dependent upon
biochemical signaling pathways inside the cell. In the current cell
culture study, curcumin reduced those signals, decreasing IL-8
production. In addition, the study showed that curcumin stopped the
neurotensin-mediated migration of colorectal cancer cells, an ability that
could stop the metastasis of colorectal cancer to other sites in the body.
The researchers suggest that circumin may be useful to support the health of
colon cancer patients and that it may be useful in suppressing colon cancer
in cells that respond to the gastrointestinal hormone neurotensin.
Reference:
Xiaofu W, et al. Circumin inhibits neurotensin-mediated interleukin-8
production and migration of HCT116 human colon cancer cells. Clinical Cancer
Research. October 2006;12(18).
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