Hepatoprotective and immunomodulatory properties of aqueous extract of Curcuma longa in carbon tetra chloride intoxicated Swiss albino mice

Objective:To evaluate the hepatoprotective and immunotherapeutic effects of aqueous extract of turmeric rhizome in CCl_4 intoxicated Swiss albino mice.Methods:first group of mice(n=5) received CCl_4 treatment at a dose of 0.5 mL/kg bw(i.p.) for 7 days.Second group was fed orally the aqueous extract of turmeric at a dose of 50 mg/kg bw for IS days.The third group was given both the turmeric extract(for 15 days,orally) and CCl_4(for last 7 days,i.p.).The fourth group was kept as a control.To study the liver function,the transaminase enzymes(SGOT and SGPT) and bilirubin level were measured in the serum of respective groups.For assaying the immunotherapeutic action of Curcuma longa(C.longa),non specific host response parameters like morphological alteration,phagocytosis,nitric oxide release,myeloperoxidase release and intracellular killing capacity of peritoneal macrophages were studied from the respective groups.Results:The result of present study suggested that CCl_4 administration increased the level of SCOT and SGPT and bilirubin level in serum.However,the aqueous extract of turmeric reduced the level of SGOT, SCFT and bilirubin in CCl_4 intoxicated mice.Apart from damaging the liver system,CCl_4 also reduced non specific host response parameters like morphological alteration,phagocytosis, nitric oxide release,myeloperoxidase release and intracellular killing capacity of peritoneal macrophages.Administration of aqueous extract of C.longa offered significant protection from these damaging actions of CCl_4 on the non specific host response in the peritoneal macrophages of CCl_4 intoxicated mice.Conclusions:In conclusion,the present study suggests that C.longa has immunotherapeutic properties along with its ability to ameliorate hepatotoxicity.

Simultaneous determination of three curcuminoids in Curcuma longa L.by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrochemical detection

A novel method for analysis of three active components curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin in Curcuma longa L. was developed by HPLC coupled with electrochemical detection. Three curcuminoids were well separated on a C18 column and detected with high sensitivity. A mobile phase containing acetonitrile and 10 mM Na2HPO4-H3PO4 （pH 5.0） （50：50, v/v） was used. Good linearity was obtained in the range of 0.208-41.6, 0.197-39.4, and 0.227-114μM for curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin respectively. The limit of detection reached up to 10 ？ 8 M, which was lower than that by UV detection. The relative standard deviations （RSDs） ranged from 1.06%to 1.88%for intra-day precision and from 4.30%to 5.79%for inter-day precision, respectively. The proposed method has been applied in real herb sample and recoveries ranging from 86.3%to 111%were obtained.

Contraceptive effect of Curcuma longa (L.) in male albino rat

Aim: To study the contraceptive effect of the crude extracts of Curcuma longa in male albino rats. Methods: Rats were fed orally with Curcuma longa aqueous and 70 % alcoholic extract for 60 days (500 mg·kg-1· day-1). Results: A reduction in sperm motility and density was observed in both the treated groups. Conclusion: Curcuma longa may have affected the androgen synthesis either by inhibiting the Leydig cell function or the hypo-thalamus pituitary axis and as a result, spermatogenesis is arrested.

Use of Support Vector Regression Based on Mean Impact Value Model to Identify Active Compounds in a Combination of Curcuma longa L.and Glycyrrhiza extracts

A support vector regression based on the mean impact value (MIV) model was constructed to identify the bioactive compounds inhibiting proliferation of HeLa cells in a combination of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) and liquorice (Glycyrrhiza) extracts. The quantitative chemical fingerprint from 50 batches of turmeric and liquorice extracts was established using high performance liquid chromatography hyphenated to an ultraviolet visible detector. Qualitative results were obtained using ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry. A total of 46 peaks (peaks 1–15 from turmeric and 16–46 from liquorice) were selected as “common peaks” for analysis. The inhibitory effect of the combined extracts on HeLa cells was measured by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. It was found that 15 compounds (peaks: 8, 12, 30, 24, 46, 11, 14, 9, 3, 1, 44, 18, 7, 45 and 43) possessing high absolute MIV exhibited a significant correlation with the cytotoxicity against HeLa cells; most of these have already been confirmed with potential cytotoxicity in previous research. The important potential application of the present model can be extended to help discover active compounds from complex herbal medicine prior to traditional bioassay-guided separation. It is considered that this could be a useful tool for re-developing herbal medicine based on the use of these active compounds. © 2017, Tianjin University and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Curcuma longa normalized cimetidine-induced pituitarytesticular dysfunction: Relevance in nutraceutical therapy

Background:The increasing incidence of chemically induced infertility is both a social threat and a threat to the continuation of life itself.Treatment or management therapy is often expensive.This study investigated the effects of acetone extract of a local plant(Curcuma longa)in a Wistar rat model of cimetidine‐induced pituitarytesticular dysfunction.Methods:Thirty‐five male Wistar rats were divided into 7 groups of 5 rats.After a phytochemical screening of an acetone extract of C.Longa,cimetidine and the extract at three doses,200,400 and 600 mg/kg,were orally co‐administered to the rats for 28 consecutive days.Comparisons were made(at P<0.05)against a control(2 mL/kg distilled water),a standard treatment group(cimetidine+50 mg/kg vitamin C),a toxic group(60 mg/kg cimetidine)and a group receiving extract alone.Results:Cimetidine administration was associated with deleterious alterations to sperm motility,sperm count and sperm viability,as well as derangements in the plasma levels of FSH,LH and testosterone(P<0.05).Both brain and testicular GSH and TBARS levels were significantly altered following cimetidine administration,and distortions were seen in the pituitary and testicular histoarchitecture.These changes were significantly normalized by co‐administration of graded doses of the extract,with an associated improvement of both pituitary and testicular histology.Conclusion:Acetone extract of C.Longa normalized cimetidine‐induced pituitarytesticular dysfunction in Wistar rats.This presents the extract as a potential nutraceutical choice against chemically induced reproductive toxicity.

Isolated Endophytic Fungi from the Plant <i>Curcuma longa</i>and Their Potential Bioactivity—A Review

Endophytes (both fungi and bacteria) represent a treasure house for bioactive compounds such as anticancer, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, antiparasitic, insecticidal etc. for use in the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries. Endophytic population is greatly influenced by climatic conditions and location where the host plant grows. Curcuma longa L. (Turmeric) is a medicinal plant belonging to the Zingiberaceae family that is usually used as spice and preservative. Traditionally it is used to treat various conditions and symptoms such as digestive disorders, arthritis, cardiovascular conditions, cancer, bacterial infections etc. In recent times, there have been different discoveries on endophytic fungi and their biological activity from C. longa. But there is no comprehensive review on endophytic fungi of C. longa. The aim of this review is to analyze the published report based on the endophytic fungi to provide for the first time an updated information about their isolation from different tissues, their biological activities including the phytochemistry of C. longa. This will lead the way to forecast the missing link for future research work.

Research Progress in Genetics and Molecular Biology of Curcuma L.

There are few studies on the genetic evolution of Curcuma L.,and it is easy to have synonyms or homonyms.In order to make better development and utilization of Curcuma L.,by consulting the relevant literature,the molecular biology and genetics of Curcuma L.were summarized,and discussed in this paper,in order to lay a foundation for the study of phylogeny and genetic evolution of Curcuma L.

Development of a Molecular Marker to Identify a Candidate Line of Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) with a High Curcumin Content

Dried and fresh rhizomes of the spice turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) are well known in traditional medicine, and curcu- min is widely used in various geographic regions. Although there are differences in the amount of curcumin within this species, identification of the candidate line by rhizome is difficult because of the relative simplicity of its morphological characteristics. To accurately identify lines of C. longa with a high content of curcumin, we analysed several sequences of chloroplast DNA. First, to determine the appropriate outgroup taxa in which to conduct infras-pecific analyses of C. longa, we reconstructed the molecular phylogenetic tree of C. longa and its allied species. The results showed that C. aromatica and C. zedoaria are closely related to C. longa. Next, to develop a molecular marker for identifying lines of C. longa with a high content of curcumin, a network analysis using chloroplast microsatellite regions was performed. Results showed that a unique haplotype within C. longa corresponds to the high curcumin content line. Therefore, the chloroplast microsatellite regions used for the analysis allowed us to determine the lines of this species with high cur- cumin content.

Difference of Curcumin Content in Curcuma longa L. (Zingiberaceae) Caused by Hybridization with Other Curcuma Species

Curcumin, which is traditionally known to have effects on various types of diseases in humans, is found in Curcuma longa L. Previous reports have indicated that the curcumin content varies between the different lines of this species. To clarify the differences in the amounts of curcumin between the lines, we investigated the outcomes of cultivation ex-periments with the hybridization or introgression between C. longa and other Curcuma species using the matK gene of chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) and the external transcribed spacer (ETS) of nuclear DNA (nrDNA). The results show that there is heterogeneity of the ETS and incongruence between the matK and the ETS phylogenetic trees, suggesting that hybridization and introgression had taken place in the diversification of the various lines of C. longa. Moreover, al-though all of the lines had the same cpDNA haplotype of C. longa, the lines of homogeneous C. longa had a high con-tent of curcumin, whereas the lines created by hybridization and introgression with other Curcuma species had a me-dium or low level. These results suggest that the difference of curcumin content among the various lines of C. longa was caused by hybridization and introgression with other Curcuma species.

Chronic Administration of <i>Curcuma longa </i>Extract Improves Spatial Memory-Related Learning Ability in Aged Rats by Inhibiting Brain Cortico-Hippocampal Oxidative Stress and TNF<i>&alpha;</i>

We studied on the effect of Curcuma longa extract on spatial learning-related memory ability of old rats in eight-arm radial maze task. Rats were randomly divided into two groups: one group was orally administered 100 mg/KgBW/day C. longa extract (CLE) dissolved in deionized water and the other group was administered the vehicle alone for 10 weeks. The rats were tested with the partially baited eight-arm radial maze to evaluate two types of spatial memory-related learning ability displayed by reference memory errors (RMEs) and working memory errors (WMEs). Chronic administration of CLE significantly decreased the number of RMEs and WMEs, concurrently with the decreases in the cortico-hippocampal levels of lipid peroxides (LPO) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). In a parallel set of experiments, CLE-pretreated rats of the same age group were subjected to hypoxia-reperfusion injury by carotid artery occlusion to induce oxidative stress in the brains in order to examine whether such an in vivo hypoxia-induced oxidative stress could be ameliorated by the extract. Again, the levels of LPO were significantly decreased in the cortico-hippocampal tissues of the CLE-fed hypoxic rats. The histology of the brains also revealed that the CLE-pretreated rats had retained improved cellular integrity. Finally, our results provide the evidence that oral administration of C. longa extract increases the defense against oxidative stress and proinflammatory TNF-α, concurrently with the improvement of memory-related brain cognitive ability of the aged rats.

In Vitro Antioxidant and Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Curcuma longa, Acorus calamus and Camellia sinensis

The purpose of the current study was to determine the total phenolic and flavonoid content and total antioxidant activity of the Curcuma longa, Acorus calamus, and Camellia sinensis ethanolic extracts and their free radical scavenging activity. The study concluded that the Curcuma longa, Acorus calamus, and Camellia sinensis ethanolic extracts have a good source of phenolics, flavonoids, and antioxidant sources in turn which opens the high possibility of the extracts being used as food preservatives. The DPPH assay for scavenging free radicals showed that the IC50 value was above 123% of Curcuma longa ethanolic extract, 129.9% μg/ml of Acorus calamus ethanolic extract and 25% of Camellia sinensis ethanolic extracts shows very strong inhibition of the free radicals. Thus, comparing the DPPH assay for scavenging free radicals of Curcuma longa, Acorus calamus and Camellia sinensis ethanolic extracts with the positive control ascorbic acid, Curcuma longa and Camellia sinensis ethanolic extracts showed strong inhibition of the free radicals.

Curcuma longa L. extract improves the cortical neural connectivity during the aging process

Turmeric or Curcuma is a natural product that has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-apoptotic pharmacological properties. It can be used in the control of the aging process that involves oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Aging is a physiological process that affects higher cortical and cognitive functions with a reduction in learning and memory, limited judgment and deficits in emotional control and social behavior. Moreover, aging is a major risk factor for the appearance of several disorders such as cerebrovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. At the brain level, the aging process alters the synaptic intercommunication by a reduction in the dendritic arbor as well as the number of the dendritic spine in the pyramidal neurons of the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and basolateral amygdala, consequently reducing the size of these regions. The present review discusses the synaptic changes caused by the aging process and the neuroprotective role the Curcuma has through its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-apoptotic actions.

Evaluation of the Nutritional Status and Phytomedicinal Properties of Dried Rhizomes of Turmeric (<i>Curcuma longa</i>)

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) belongs to the family Zingiberaceae and has long been used traditionally for centuries as a spice and medicinal elixir. Hence, the present study aimed to profile the nutritional and phytomedicinal properties of the plant in order to justify its relevance in traditional phytomedicine and advocate its application in novel pharmacological products. Using standard methods (High Performance Liquid Chromatography, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry), the dried rhizomes were washed, pulverized and ethanol extracts subjected to proximate, phytochemical, vitamins, amino acid and mineral determinations. Data obtained were analyzed using student’s t-test in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 21. Determined proximate indices indicated moisture content of 9.55%, carbohydrate (57.30%), ash (24.70%), crude fiber (1.12%), proteins (2.15%) and fat (5.32%). Mineral composition analyses showed that C. longa rhizomes had higher contents of calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium in parts per million (ppm) at 38.68 ± 0.114, 19.75 ± 0.001, 9.20 ± 0.002 and 7.06 ± 0.014 respectively. Amino acid profile revealed the presence of both essential and non-essential types with aspartate and glutamate in higher contents at 9.78 g/100 g and 9.65 g/100 g, respectively. Findings showed also the presence of vitamins A, C and D at 254.5 ± 2.19 mg/kg, 19.47 ± 0.16 mg/kg and 10.92 ± 0.92 mg/kg, respectively. Phytochemical analyses showed the presence of phenolic compounds with high retention times. This study thus revealed that C. longa possesses various nutritional and pharmacological/medicinal components in considerable quantities and can provide the body with basic nutrients for its therapeutic needs as well as secondary compounds with tremendous phytomedicinal potentials.

Elucidating the molecular targets of Curcuma longa for breast cancer treatment using network pharmacology,molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation

Background:To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of Curcuma longa(C.longa)in breast cancer treatment.Methods:Phytocompounds of C.longa were obtained from Dr.Duke’s Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Database.Potential active targets were retrieved from Bindingdb,SEA and Swiss Target Prediction databases.Breast cancer targets were retrieved from the Therapeutic Target Database.Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses were done using DAVID and KOBAS3.0 databases respectively.The Cytoscape software was used to construct the phytocompound-target-pathway network.The PyRx and Desmond software were utilized for molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation respectively.Results:Out of one hundred and fifty-six phytocompounds,fifty-four modulated proteins involved in breast cancer.Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis indicated C.longa exerts its therapeutic effect through regulating several key pathways.Molecular docking analysis revealed that most phytocompounds of C.longa had a good affinity with the key targets.Molecular dynamics simulation showed that ethinylestradiol formed stable ligand-protein complexes.Conclusion:The results of this study will enhance our understanding of the potential molecular mechanisms by which C.longa inhibits breast cancer and lay a foundation for future experimental studies.

Growing <i>Curcuma longa</i>for Rhizome Production on Diverse Arable Soil Types in Cameroon: Agronomic and Microbial Parameters

The aim of this work is to assess soil types’ effect on the growth and production of Curcuma longa rhizomes. The Rhizome of Curcuma longa was grown in a greenhouse in pots for seven months on different soil types. Physico-chemical analyses of the different soils were carried out. Collar diameter, the height of the plants, and yield of rhizome were measured. Total microbial density, number of spores, and root colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) from these soils were assessed. Results show that soils are sandy clay loam, clay sandy, clay, acidic (pH 4.16 to 6.62), and have a C/N ratio from 6.10 to 19.83. Nitrogen (N) is between 0.49 to 2.41 g/kg, available phosphorus (P) between 2 to 16 ppm, Organic matter (OM) from 14.6 to 51.4 g/kg. Total microbial density is between 2 to 16 × 106 Cell/mm3, number of AMF spores in situ between 4 to 67 spores/g of soil. The frequency of root colonization is between 47% to 78%. The average growth and rhizome production are between 5 to 15 g/plant. All the results obtained show that the soils with clay to sandy clayey loam texture, medium acidity (pH 5.5 - 6.6), low C content (7.3 - 9.6 g/kg), low N content (0.49 - 1.13 g/kg), good C/N ratio (<14), low to medium AMF sporulation (28 - 41 spores/g) and AMF root colonization between 55% to 78% are the most suitable for the cultivation and rhizome production of Curcuma longa in Cameroon.

Study of the Knowledge of Turmeric <i>Curcuma longa</i>) and Ginger (<i>Zingiber officinale</i>) in the Region of Daloa (Côte D’Ivoire)

Ginger and turmeric are two plants of the Zingiberaceaes family. They are used as spices and in the treatment of many diseases. Despite their importance, data on their knowledge and their uses are scarce. The objective of this work was to assess the knowledge and different uses of ginger and turmeric. A survey was carried out among saleswomen and consumers. The survey reveals that 100% of those surveyed knew about ginger, but fewer people (17.5%) knew about turmeric. The survey identified that ginger tastes more pungent (82.65%) than bitter (17.35%), whilst turmeric’s taste is bitterer (53.47%) rather than pungent (46.53%). Consumption differed between the two rhizomes, with ginger consumed fresh (90.22%) and turmeric dry (84.25%). Differences were also noted in their medicinal (40.66% for ginger and 32.15% for turmeric), nutritional (50.82% for ginger and 11.65% for turmeric) and cosmetic (8.63% properties for ginger and 56.2% for turmeric) uses. The vernacular names of the two rhizomes varied from one ethnic group to another.

复方中药配伍现代减肥成分的动物实验研究

目的:探讨姜黄、决明子等复方中药提取物配伍左旋肉碱酒石酸盐和白芸豆提取物的减肥作用。方法:选用SD健康雄性大鼠为研究对象,建立肥胖大鼠模型,用姜黄、决明子等复方中药提取物配伍左旋肉碱酒石酸盐和白芸豆提取物进行减肥作用研究。大鼠随机分为空白对照组、模型对照组及4个配方试验组,观察各组大鼠的摄食情况、食物利用率、体质量变化及体内脂肪积累情况。结果:各试验组摄食量、总摄食量及摄入总热量与模型对照组比较无差异,试验组1、2、4体质量增长量和总质量增长量均低于模型对照组,试验组1和试验组4食物利用率和总食物利用率均低于模型对照组,试验组1和试验组4大鼠的睾丸及肾周围脂肪质量低于模型对照组,差异有统计学意义(p<0.05)。结论:该实验条件下,试验组1和4具有减肥作用。

姜黄提取物对加州鲈生长、抗氧化及免疫功能的影响

为探究姜黄提取物对加州鲈生长、抗氧化及免疫功能的影响,在饲料中分别添加1%的姜黄醇提物和姜黄水提物,进行4周的投喂试验,每周测定加州鲈体质量及肝脏抗氧化指标,试验结束时测定脾脏炎性因子及抗病毒因子的基因表达量。结果显示,投喂姜黄醇提取物和水提物对加州鲈幼鱼体质量增长无显著影响(P>0.05)。醇提物组SOD、AKP在第3周开始显著高于对照组(P<0.05),第4周时显著高于水提物组(P<0.05),第4周时CAT、T-AOC、ACP显著高于对照组及水提物组(P<0.05),MDA显著低于对照组及水提物组(P<0.05)。姜水提物组SOD在第3周开始显著高于对照组(P<0.05),第4周时T-AOC、ACP显著高于对照组(P<0.05),MDA及CAT显著小于对照组(P<0.05)。用药组加州鲈脾脏中IL-8、IL-10、TNF-α、IFN-γ、Mx-1和PKR基因表达量均显著高于对照组(P<0.05),其中醇提物组IL-10、Mx-1和PKR基因表达量显著高于水提物组(P<0.05),水提物组IFN-γ基因表达量较醇提物组高(P<0.05)。研究表明,饲料中添加适量的姜黄醇提物和水提物,投喂4周能显著提高加州鲈抗氧化能力及免疫力,以姜黄醇提物效果更优。

不同干燥方式对姜黄中姜黄素和姜黄油的影响

以新鲜姜黄根茎为原料,采用高效液相色谱法、水蒸气蒸馏法及气相色谱质谱联用(GC-MS)等方法研究了晒干、阴干、30℃热风烘干、60℃热风烘干和冷冻干燥5种干燥方式对姜黄素的相对含量和姜黄油组分组成的影响。结果表明,不同干燥方式下,姜黄素的相对含量和姜黄油的含量及组分的变化较大,但姜黄的色度变化较小,其中自然阴干方式下姜黄素和姜黄挥发油含量相对较高,分别为1.84%、6.15%。研究结果为姜黄的开发利用和产品加工提供一定的技术支持。

朝鲜蓟护肝组方的抗氧化活性及肝保护作用分析

探究朝鲜蓟和3种药食同源中草药枳椇子、葛根和姜黄联用下的体外抗氧化和抗炎活性及其对斑马鱼肝损伤的保护作用。体外抗氧化研究表明,护肝组方对DPPH和+ABTS自由基的清除能力IC50值分别为80.18µg/mL和256.15µg/mL。体外抗炎实验研究表明,质量浓度为120µg/mL的护肝组方显著抑制了炎症因子TNF-α、IL-6的表达和NO的分泌(P<0.05),抑制率分别为48.12%、31.77%和27.38%。对乙酰氨基酚(APAP)致斑马鱼肝损伤研究表明,高剂量组(62.5µg/mL)中斑马鱼肝脏面积增加了30.07%,肝脏明亮度增加了12.48%,卵黄囊面积降低了56.16%,差异均显著(P<0.001)。低、中、高剂量组(15.6、31.25及62.5µg/mL)均显著改善肝细胞变性和细胞坏死并降低组织中谷丙转氨酶(ALT)和谷草转氨酶(AST)活力(P<0.05),且呈剂量依赖关系。该研究表明,朝鲜蓟护肝组方具有明确的体外抗氧化和抗炎活性,对APAP所致斑马鱼肝损伤具有明显的保护作用。