Safety and
anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin: a component
of tumeric (Curcuma longa).
Chainani-Wu
N.
Department of Stomatology,
INTRODUCTION: Tumeric is a spice that comes from the
root Curcuma longa, a member of the ginger family, Zingaberaceae. In Ayurveda
(Indian traditional medicine), tumeric has been used
for its medicinal properties for various indications and through different
routes of administration, including topically, orally, and by inhalation. Curcuminoids are components of tumeric,
which include mainly curcumin (diferuloyl
methane), demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcmin.
OBJECTIVES: The goal of this systematic review of the literature was to
summarize the literature on the safety and anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin. METHODS: A search of the computerized database
MEDLINE (1966 to January 2002), a manual search of bibliographies of papers
identified through MEDLINE, and an Internet search using multiple search
engines for references on this topic was conducted. The PDR for Herbal
Medicines, and four textbooks on herbal medicine and their bibliographies were
also searched. RESULTS: A large number of studies on curcumin
were identified. These included studies on the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory,
antiviral, and antifungal properties of curcuminoids.
Studies on the toxicity and anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin
have included in vitro, animal, and human studies. A phase 1 human trial with
25 subjects using up to 8000 mg of curcumin per day
for 3 months found no toxicity from curcumin. Five
other human trials using 1125-2500 mg of curcumin per
day have also found it to be safe. These human studies have found some evidence
of anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin. The
laboratory studies have identified a number of different molecules involved in
inflammation that are inhibited by curcumin including
phospholipase, lipooxygenase,
cyclooxygenase 2, leukotrienes,
thromboxane, prostaglandins, nitric oxide, collagenase, elastase, hyaluronidase, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), interferon-inducible
protein, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and interleukin-12 (IL-12). CONCLUSIONS: Curcumin has been demonstrated to be safe in six human
trials and has demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity. It may exert its
anti-inflammatory activity by inhibition of a number of different molecules
that play a role in inflammation.
Efficacy and tolerability
of Boswellia serrata
extract in treatment of osteoarthritis of knee--a randomized double blind
placebo controlled trial.
Kimmatkar N, Thawani V, Hingorani L, Khiyani R.
MS Orthopedics,
Osteoarthritis is a common, chronic, progressive, skeletal, degenerative
disorder, which commonly affects the knee joint. Boswellia
serrata tree is commonly found in