A major compound in the usually used spice turmeric advance the maturation ofbrain stem electric cell in both cellphone culture and rodents , a new study has discover . While it is currently far too other to tell whether these results would interpret to humans , the investigator suggest that this compound could be a bright nominee to promote brain electric cell regeneration in sure neurologic upset . Thestudyhas been issue in the open access journalStem Cell Research & Therapy .
The herbCurcuma longa , or turmeric , contains two major bioactive compounds : curcumin and redolent ( ar- ) turmerone . The former has been found toexhibitantioxidant , anti - inflammatory and anti - cancer properties in various studies ; in fact , over1,700papers on curcumin have been issue in the last 50 year . It can also pass over our brain ’s protective shell , the blood - mastermind roadblock , and playneuroprotective rolesin sealed neurological disorders . moreover , several line of merchandise of evidence have suggested it could be utilitarian in the discussion of Parkinson ’s disease .
Ar - turmerone , on the other hand , has been largely neglected by scientist . However , some studies have hinted that it may have anti - inflammatory properties and may help to block the activity of inflammatory brain cell , which are called microglia . Since the activation of these cells is tie in with various neurodegenerative disease and strokes , researchers are dandy to probe its possible usefulness as a remedial broker .
To find out more , a team of researchers from the Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine in Jülich , Germany , investigated the effect of ar - turmerone onneural stem cells(NSCs ) . These cell self - renew and give lift to several types of brain cubicle let in neurons and the whizz - shaped astrocyte . These cells have some ability toregeneratebrain cell after combat injury , but whether this is sufficient to repair equipment casualty due to neurodegenerative diseases such asAlzheimer’sremains contentious .
For thestudy , the team first exposed rat NSCs in a beauty to six unlike concentration of ar - turmerone for 72 hour . They found that it increased cadre proliferation in a drug - pendant manner , i.e. the more Land of Opportunity - turmerone that was added , the more the cell divided . Certain concentrations even boost proliferation by up to 80 % when compared with control cell .
Next , the researcher injected the chemical compound directly into the brains of adult rats and study the subsequent activity of NSCs by positron emission tomography ( PET ) imaging . Once again , the extracts increase the outgrowth and development of NSCs into dissimilar electric cell type when equate with ascendancy mice .
According to conduct researcherMaria Reuger , these results could designate that ar - turmerone may be able-bodied to supercharge the effectualness of root word cells , which could in turn boost brain repair . However , it ’s far too other to assure at this point whether these results understand to people . Furthermore , this study did not look into whether this enhance base cell proliferation and development would makemeaningful differencesin rats with neurodegenerative diseases . So please do not take these results to mean “ A curry a day keeps Alzheimer ’s aside , ” as theDaily Mailwould have you believe . Furthermore , as theNHSpoints out , it is well - tell apart that boosting stem cell growth convey some risk of tumor development .
While these results may indicate that ar - turmerone could make up a hopeful therapeutic candidate for sure neurological disorders , further studies are needed to support this .
[ ViaBMC , Stem Cell Research & Therapy , NHSandBBC News ]
