Turmeric (Curcuma longa), a member of the ginger family, is a traditional Indian curry spice. It is also used as a yellow food coloring and has been used in traditional medicine in India and Ancient Egypt for at least 6000 years.
Several natural substances have greater antioxidant effects than conventional vitamins, including various polyphenols, flavonoids and curcumenoids. Natural substances are worth further exploration both experimentally and clinically. Curcumin is an antioxidant extract from the spice turmeric that produces a wide range of health benefits. Recently, many studies on health benefits associated with curcumin have been reported. In the present study, an attempt has been made to test individual curcuminoids, such as curcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin and demethoxycurcumin, for their antioxidant activities by in vitro model systems.
Water and fat-soluble extracts of turmeric and its curcumin component exhibit strong antioxidant activity, comparable to vitamins C and E. Study showed curcumin to be eight times more powerful than vitamin E in preventing lipid peroxidation. Taken in group arrangements such as C-complex, curcuminoids are three times as potent in neutralizing free-radical molecules. Curcumin has the ability to reduce oxidative stress. curcumin's role as an antioxidant have the ability to down regulate nitric oxide formation where Nitric oxide is a key element in inflammation and may contribute to carcinogenesis.
Curcumin, also known as diferuloylmethane, it is a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, and may help prevent the development of a variety of conditions related to oxidative and free-radical damage, including cataracts, heart disease, and cancer. Cancer patients should be taking 2000 mg to 4000 mg a day of curcumin extract with a heavy meal. 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.
Apart from antioxidant property curcumin plays an important role in Alzheimer's disease, it is a powerful detoxifier, its anti inflammatory, anticancer and antioxidant roles may be clinically exploited to control many diseases.
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About the author:Avon Howard Jr. is a nutrition consultant and has been involved with the health food industry for more than 2 decades. . He is a part of many research teams that has worked on the impact of various herbal extracts on the human body. His deep knowledge and vast experience of the health food supplements makes him the sought after consultant for many health food companies.
Article source: http://juicyarticles.net/articles/Curcumin-The-Most-Powerful-Antioxidant-643
Article keywords: turmeric, curcumin, health, antioxidants
