Turmeric

To give a sense of the medical majesty of this herb, we offer a partial list of U.S. institutions that have published papers on turmeric and/or its most well known components, the curcuminoids. The authors of this compilation chose to identify only U.S. institutions working in this area to demonstrate to the most skeptical and provincial that the enormous potential benefits of turmeric are definitely in the sights of our most brilliant scientists. The most amazing thing about this prodigious body of work is that the public is still completely unaware.

U.S. Institutions Studying Turmeric/Curcumin
A great herbalist and teacher once stated that if, after a lifetime of study, a student could understand the activity of just one herb, then that student would be a bona fide herbalist. In our judgment, if a student should accept that challenge, an herb worthy of a lifetime's study would be turmeric. We also believe that, after a lifetime's study, the student would not even begin to understand the full complexity of this, the world's most important herb. To give a sense of the medical majesty of this herb, we offer a partial list of U.S. institutions that have published papers on turmeric and/or its most well known components, the curcuminoids. The authors of this compilation chose to identify only U.S. institutions working in this area to demonstrate to the most skeptical and provincial that the enormous potential benefits of turmeric are definitely in the sights of our most brilliant scientists. The most amazing thing about this prodigious body of work is that the public is still completely unaware.

This list obviously does not include works in progress or the most impressive findings from other research institutions around the world. Also, while many of the studies here indicate profound and complex therapeutic activities to curcumin, consider it is just one component of this herb/spice that has been revered by billions for thousands of years. Numerous studies indicate curcumin's activity and bioavailability is significantly enhanced when delivered in the context of the other 4 known curcuminoids and the hundreds of other constituents in the whole plant. Inquire for a list of these references. The formatting begins with the name of the institution, followed by the departments and the head researcher and date of the study. The PMID # is the locator at the National Library of Medicine and the number after the hyphen is the number of researchers involved in the study. The summary presents the exact findings from either the abstract or full text of the article. Parentheses are included as summaries by the authors of this compilation.

ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE DEPARTMENT OF PATHOLOGY, Brosnan CF. 2001 Curcumin has been used for centuries to treat inflammatory disorders. Due to its low toxicity it is currently under consideration as a broad anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor cell agent. We conclude that gammadelta T cells (allergic inflammatory agents)...are highly sensitive to curcumin and that this effect may contribute to the anti-inflammatory properties of this compound. PMID: 11544338-8R

HOSPITAL OF THE NORTH SHORE-LONG ISLAND JEWISH HEALTH SYSTEM, Trachtman H. 2001 The protective effect of curcumin against (toxin)-induced injury…was not related to its antioxidant properties. Instead, curcumin enhanced expression of heat shock protein… PMID: 11322764-3-R

DEPARTMENT OF ONCOLOGY, Augenlicht LH. 2000 The butyrate response was compared in detail with…curcumin, a component of mustard and curry structurally and functionally related to sulindac that also has chemopreventive activitiy. PMID: 10969808-3R

AMERICAN HEALTH FOUNDATION, CHEMOPREVENTION PROGRAM, Reddy BS. 1999 Curcumin inhibited colonic (tumor) formation (in an animal modeo) by 45%. PMID: 10223193-4R

DIVISION OF NUTRITIONAL CARCINOGENESIS, Reddy BS. 1999. Thus, chemopreventive activity of curcumin is observed when it is administered prior to, during, and after carcinogen treatment as well as when it is given only during the promotion/progression phase (starting late in premalignant stage) of colon carcinogenesis. PMID: 9973206-7R

Reddy BS. 1995 The results indicate that dietary administration of curcumin significantly inhibited incidence of colon adenocarcinomas and the multiplicity of invasive, noninvasive, and total (invasive plus noninvasive) adenocarcinomas. Dietary curcumin also significantly suppressed the colon tumor volume by >57% compared to the control diet. Although the precise mechanism by which curcumin inhibits colon tumorigenesis remains to be elucidated, it is likely that the chmopreventive action, at leasat in part, may be related to the modulation of arachidonic acid metabolism (the pathway that also leads to inflammatory COX-2). PMID: 7812955-5R

Reddy BS. 1993 The results of the present study indicate that curcumin, present in turmeric, inhibits AOM-induced colonic preneoplastic lesions and other cellular events relevant to colon carcinogenesis. PMID: 8242846-3R

BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE THE DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY, Tan TH. 1998 Curcumin, a dietary pigment in curry, suppresses tumor initiation and tumor promotion.... Taken together, the inhibition of the MEKK1-JNK pathway reveals a possible mechanism of suppression of AP-1 and NF-kappaB signaling (proteins overexpressed in pathological inflammation and cancer states) by curcumin, and may explain the potent anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic effects of this chemical. PMID: 9674701-2R

CANCER RESEARCH CENTER OF HAWAII ETIOLOGY PROGRAM, Cooney RV. 1999 Heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs), a group of chemicals formed during high-temperature cooking of meat and fish, are potent mutagens and are suspected to play a role in colorectal (and just about every other form of) cancer.Lower levels of PhIP and MeIQx were observed in meat marinated with turmeric-garlic sauce. In contrast, marinating with barbecue sauce caused a 2.9- and 1.9-fold increase in PhIP and a 4- and 2.9-fold increase in MeIQx PMID: 10578481- 3R

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS, Katz AE. 2001 Curcumin causes a marked decrease in the extent of cell proliferation…and…could be a potentially therapeutic anti-cancer agent, as it significantly inhibits prostate cancer growth,…and has the potential to prevent the progression of prostate cancer to its hormone refractory state. PMID: 11398177-5R

Katz AE. 2000 These results, taken together with our previous results that curcumin can induce apoptosis in both androgen-dependent and androgen-independent prostate cancer cells, support our view that curcumin may be a novel modality by which one can interfere with the signal transduction pathways of the prostate cancer cell and prevent it from progressing to its hormone-refractory state. PMID: 10851300 – 3R

CORNELL UNIVERSITY THE NEW YORK HOSPITAL-Cornell Medical Center, Bertagnolli MM. 2000 These data (approximately 63% decreased adenoma tumor formation) place the plant phenolics CAPE and curcumin among a growing list of anti-inflammatory agents that suppress Apc-associated intestinal carcinogenesis. PMID: 10783313-8R

DR. MITCHELL GAYNORE, MEDICAL DIRECTOR. 2001 Although there is abundant science to support the potential of nutritional therapies such as the natural COX-2 inhibitors found in red wine and turmeric and the phytoestrogens, in soy for cancer prevention, few doctors are aware of this information.

DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY, Bertagnolli MM. 2000 These results show that mucosal…T cells and B cells increase in animals treated with curcumin, suggesting that curcumin modulates lymphocyte-mediated immune functions. PMID: 10729246-4R

DEPARTMENT OF CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY, Dannenberg AJ. 1999 We found that curcumin directly inhibited the activity of COX-2. These data provide new insights into the anticancer properties of curcumin. PMID: 10190560-5R

DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE, Rigas B. 1997 Curcumin, the active ingredient of the rhizome of the plant turmeric (Curcuma longa Linn), a commonly used spice, prevents cancer in animal tumor models. The role of curcumin’s antiproliferative effect in human colon cancer remains to be established. PMID: 9422331-4R

STRANG-CORNELL CANCER RESEARCH LABORATORY, Nitin T. Telang, 1994. Curcumin, despite being an antioxidant, is also a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent. It is probable that curcumin may selectively kill clones of tumor cells, as has been reported. 1R

DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, Awasthi YC. 1999 Curcumin, an antioxidant present in the spice turmeric (Curcuma longa), has been shown to inhibit chemical carcinogenesis in animal models and has been shown to be an anti-inflammatory agent… These results suggest that GSTs play a major role in detoxification of lipid peroxidation products…and that these enzymes are modulated by curcumin. PMID: 10514034-7R

EMORY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOLOGY, Pavlath GK. 1999 Skeletal muscle is often the site of tissue injury due to trauma, disease, developmental defects or surgery. Yet, to date, no effective treatment is available to stimulate the repair of skeletal muscle…Systemic administration of the NF-kB inhibitor curcumin stimulates muscle regneration after traumatic injury. The striking effects of curcumin on myogenesis suggest therapeutic applications for treating muscle injuries. PMID: 10444409-5R

DIVISION OF CARDIOLOGY, Department of Medicine, Medford RM. 1998 (Curcumin was also found to inhibit TNF activated VCAM-1, a pathway which can lead to pathological inflammation and is implicated in atherosclerosis). PMID: 9468519-3R

FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Mazzio EA. 1998 Excessive nitric oxide (NO) production in the brain has been correlated with neurotoxicity and the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases. (Curcumin and other plant compounds were shown to significantly inhibit this potentially problematic imbalance). PMID: 9714085-2R

HARBOR-UCLA MEDICAL CENTER DIVISION OF UROLOGY, Shoskes DA. 2000 The combination of mycophenolic acid with curcumin…reduces rental injury and facilitates repair. PMID: 10688038-2R

DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY, UCLA SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, Shoskes DA. 1998 Quercetin and curcumin reduce ischemia-reperfusion (blood flow obstructed) injury and its inflammatory sequelae. The bioflavonoids (curcumin) holds promise as agents that can reduce immune and nonimmune renal injury, the key risk factors in chronic graft loss. PMID: 9701255-1R

HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL DEPARTMENT OF UROLOGY, Freeman MR. 1999 [This group is looking at the relationship between curcumin, AP-1 (a key player in the inflammatory cascade) and bladder muscle health]. PMID: 10444406-7R

DEPARTMENT OF DERMATOLOGY, Byers HR 1998 These results indicate that curcumin has direct antiangiogenic activity in vitro and in vivo. The activity of curcumin in inhibiting carcinogenesis in diverse organs such as the skin and colon may be mediated in part through angiogenesis inhibition. PMID: 10780880-8R collaborative effort * See Harvard Medical School Department of Surgery’s collaborative effort with Stanford University School of Medicine

DEPARTMENTS OF SURGERY AND GENETICS on AP-1 research and curcumin.

HENRY FORD HOSPITAL DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE, Detroit, MI, Chapman RA. 1998 We have investigated the antiproliferative effect of curcumin, an antitumor agent with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties...These findings have implications for developing curcumin-based anticancer and anti-inflammation therapies. PMID: 9719490-5R department of medicine, CHAPMAN RA. 1998 We have investigated the antiproliferative effect of curcumin, an antitumor agent with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, against a variety of transformed and nontransformed cell types...These findings have implications for developing curcumin-based anticancer and anti-inflammation therapies. PMID: 9719490-5R

DIVISION OF HEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGY, Gautam SC. 1997-98 (Curcumin was also found to inhibit aspects of the NF-Kappa B cascade, a pathway which can lead to pathological inflammation and cancer proliferation). PMID: 9439980-5R.

DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, GAUTAM SC. 1997 (This group of scientists from Henry Ford Hospital are investigating curcumins role as an anti-inflammatory in this most complex biochemical pathway). PMID: 9168063-6R

MANHATTAN EYE, EAR AND THROAT HOSPITAL DEPARTMENT OF OTOLARYNGOLOGY—Head and Neck Surgery, Schantz SP. 1998 (Curcumin and other agents were found to inhibit two cell lines of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas). PMID: 9482545-5R

MEDICAL COLLEGE OF OHIO DEPARTMENTS OF UROLOGY AND PATHOLOGY, Selman SH. 2001 The development of an effective nontoxic agent that may be used immediately after bladder tumor resection to prevent the implantation of tumor cells would be a significant clinical advancement…curcumin is a potent cytotoxic agent against (multiple) bladder tumor cell lines. Curcumin effectively inhibits tumor implantation and growth in this murine bladder tumor model. PMID: 11547120-5R

MEMORIAL SLOAN-KETTERING CANCER CENTER DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY, HEAD AND NECK SURGERY, Sacks PG. 1998 Combinations allowed for a dose reduction of 4.4-8.5-fold for EGCG and 2.2-2.8-fold for curcumim. EGCG and curcumin were noted to inhibit neoplastic growth by different mechanisms, a factor which may account for their demonstrable interactive synergistic effect. PMID: 9525275 – 5R

SCHANTZ S. 1997 Effective chemoprevention of aerodigestive tumors could have far-reaching effects. Aerodigestive cancer accounts for one-third of all cancer deaths in the United States and is the most common cancer in some areas of the world...Novel agents are under development (especially for heavy smokers): epigallacatchin gallate, or green tea, curcumin, and a new emphasis on folic acid. PMID: 9433643-2R

MERCY CANCER INSTITUTE Cancer Research Laboratory Pittsburgh, PA, Zaren HA 1998 Results of the present study suggest that curcumin may inhibit BaP-induced forestomach cancer in mice by affecting both activation as well as inactivation pathways of BaP metabolism in the liver...Therefore, it seems reasonable to postulate that curcumin may exert anticarcinogenic activity either by inhibiting activation of BaP or (and) by enhancing the detoxification of (+)-anti-BaPDE (the metabolite of BaP that is highly carcinogenic). PMID: 9744529-7R

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF HORTICULTURE AND NATIONAL SAFETY AND TOXICOLOGY CENTER, Nair MG. 2000 (Curcuminoids) from Cucuma longa were assayed for their cytotoxicity, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. These co