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Curcuma Longa is a plant native to India which is remarkable for being the source of its culinary spice known as Turmeric and its medicinal extract called Turmeric Extract.
Botanical Classification:
Family: Zingiberaceae (Ginger Family)
Genus: Curcuma
Species: Longa
Scientific Name: Curcuma Longa Linnaeus
The plant is a member of the Zingiberaceae or ginger family. It was classified by Carolus Linnaeus, a botanist of Sweden who lived in the period 1707-1778.
Distribution:
Botanical Features:
Trunk: grows up to 1 metre.
Leaves: lengthy and rectangular in shape;
Flowers: lengthy white spike flowers.
Root System: rhizomes.
Medicinal Properties:
- anti-oxidant;
anti-inflammatory,
inhibits formation of, and breaks down, Amyloid-beta oligomers and aggregates;
anti-platelet;
anti-cancer: causes apoptosis in various cancer cell types including skin, colon, forestomach, duodenum and ovary;
anti: -viral, -fungal, -bacterial (inhibits Helicobacter Pylori);
Traditional and Modern Uses of Curcuma Longa
In India, Curcuma Longa has been in usage for centuries as a food coloring for curry and as a medicine to treat muscular problems and arthritis. Indians are thought to consume between 80 and 200 mg per day of the extract.
Curcuma Longa and Alzheimer's Disease
"Alzheimer's disease (AD) involves amyloid (Abeta) accumulation, oxidative damage and inflammation ... The phenolic yellow curry pigment curcumin has potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities and can suppress oxidative damage, inflammation, cognitive deficits, and amyloid accumulation. ...
J Biol Chem. 2004 Dec 7; Curcumin inhibits formation of Abeta oligomers and fibrils and binds plaques and reduces amyloid in vivo. Yang F, Lim GP, Begum AN, Ubeda OJ, Simmons MR, Ambegaokar SS, Chen PP, Kayed R, Glabe CG, Frautschy SA, Cole GM. GRECC (VA Medical) and Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, North Hills, CA 91343.
Curcuma Longa and Arthritis
"The cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has recently emerged as a crucial factor in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). ... Curcumin and caffeic acid were found to be the most potent inhibitors, exhibiting IC(50) values in the submicromolar range in the ketonase assay. ... Our results reveal MIF as a possible target for the herbal anti-rheumatic agents."
Int Immunopharmacol. 2005 May;5(5):849-56. Epub 2005 Jan 27. Plant-derived anti-inflammatory compounds affect MIF tautomerase activity. Molnar V, Garai J. Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pecs, 12, Szigeti Str. H-7624 Pecs, Hungary.
Curcuma Longa and Cancer
" ... Curcumin, one of the most studied chemopreventive agents, is a natural compound extracted from Curcuma longa L. that allows suppression, retardation or inversion of carcinogenesis. Curcumin is also described as an anti-tumoral, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory agent capable of inducing apoptosis in numerous cellular systems. ..."
Cancer Lett. 2005 Jun 8;223(2):181-90. Chemopreventive and therapeutic effects of curcumin. Duvoix A, Blasius R, Delhalle S, Schnekenburger M, Morceau F, Henry E, Dicato M, Diederich M. Laboratoire de Biologie Moleculaire et Cellulaire du Cancer, Hopital Kirchberg, 9, rue Edward Steichen, L-2540 Luxembourg, Luxembourg
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