Turmeric-Black Cumin Essential Oils and Their Capacity to Attenuate Free Radicals, Protein Denaturation, and Cancer Proliferation.

Turmeric rhizomes (Curcuma longa) and black cumin seeds (Nigella sativa) are polyherbal ingredients used for the management of cancer and other chronic inflammatory diseases in Nigerian ethnomedicine. Previous studies have shown the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities of the individual plant extracts. However, the two spices have not been biologically potentiated in their combined form. Therefore, this study obtained essential oils (EOs) from the combined spices and evaluated their inhibitory effects on free radicals, protein denaturation, and cancer proliferation. The EOs were extracted by hydro-distillation (HD) and characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In vitro antioxidant assessment was conducted based on DPPH, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), nitric oxide (NO), and ferric ion (Fe3+) radical scavenging assays. The cytotoxicity of the oil against non-tumorigenic (HEK293) and cancerous (HepG2 and HeLa) cell lines was determined following the MTT cell viability assay. An in silico molecular docking analysis of the oil constituents was also performed. Six batches of EOs I-VI were afforded, comprising twenty-two major constituents, with aromatic Ar-turmerone being the most prominent compound. There was a marked improvement in the bioactivity of the oils upon repeated HD and as a combination. The batch VI oil exhibited the best activity, with a cytotoxicity (CC50) of 10.16 ± 1.69 µg/100 µL against the HepG2 cell line, which was comparable to 5-fluorouracil (standard, CC50 = 8.59 ± 1.33 µg/100 µL). In silico molecular docking suggested δ-curcumene, Ar-curcumene, Ar-turmerol, and Ar-turmerone among the promising compounds based on their high binding energy scores with NOX2, NF-κB, and mdm2 proteins. In conclusion, the oils from the turmeric-black cumin combined possess a considerable inhibition ability against free radicals, protein denaturation, and cancer proliferation. This study's findings further underscore the effectiveness of turmeric-black cumin as a polyherbal medicinal ingredient.

Incorporation of Nanostructural Hydroxyapatite and Curcumin Extract from Curcuma longa L. Rhizome into Polylactide to Obtain Green Composite.

This study showed that a polylactide (PLA)-based composite filled with nanostructured hydroxyapatite (HAp) and a natural extract from the rhizome of Curcuma longa L. could provide an alternative to commonly used fossil-based plasticsfor food packaging. The incorporation of HAp into the PLA matrix had a positive effect on improving selected properties of the composites; the beneficial effect could be enhanced by introducing a green modifier in the form of an extract. Prior to the fabrication of the composite, the filler was characterized in terms of morphology and composition, and the composite was then fully characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and the mechanical, thermal, thermomechanical, and optical properties were investigated. The proposed material exhibits antioxidant properties against DPPH radicals and antibacterial performance against Escherichia coli (E. coli). The results showed that the nanocomposite has the highest antioxidant and antibacterial properties for 10 wt% HAp with an average diameter of rod-shaped structures below 100 nm. In addition, the introduction of turmeric extract had a positive effect on the tensile strength of the nanocomposites containing 1 and 5% HAp. As the resulting material adsorbs light in a specific wavelength range, it can be used in the medical sector, food-packaging, or coatings.

Photodynamic therapy with curcumin and near-infrared radiation as an antitumor strategy to glioblastoma cells.

Glioblastoma is a malignant neoplasm that develops in the central nervous system and is characterized by high rates of cell proliferation and invasion, presenting resistance to treatments and a poor prognosis. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a therapeutic modality that can be applied in oncological cases and stands out for being less invasive. Photosensitizers (PS) of natural origin gained prominence in PDT. Curcumin (CUR) is a natural compound that has been used in PDT, considered a promising PS. In this work, we evaluated the effects of PDT-mediated CUR and near-infrared radiation (NIR) in glioblastoma cells. Through trypan blue exclusion analysis, we chose the concentration of 5 µM of CUR and the dose of 2 J/cm2 of NIR that showed better responses in reducing the viable cell number in the C6 cell line and did not show cytotoxic/cytostatic effects in the HaCat cell line. Our results show that there is a positive interaction between CUR and NIR as a PDT model since there was an increase in ROS levels, a decrease in cell proliferation, increase in cytotoxicity with cell death by autophagy and necrosis, in addition to the presence of oxidative damage to proteins. These results suggest that the use of CUR and NIR is a promising strategy for the antitumor application of PDT.

Comparative Evaluation of Antimicrobial Efficacy of Triple Antibiotic Paste Herbal Combination and Camphorated Monochlorophenol as Intracanal Medicaments against Enterococcus faecalis in Deciduous Molars: An In Vivo Study.

Aim: Compare the efficacy of triple antibiotic paste (TAP), herbal extracts, and camphorated monochlorophenol (CMCP) as intracanal medicaments against Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) in deciduous molars. Materials and methods: A total of 60 samples were collected from canals of first and second molars of 4-10-year-old children, with more than two-thirds root length, and fitting the inclusion criteria. Samples were collected at three intervals-S1 was collected just after access opening, S2 was collected after biomechanical preparation (BMP) and irrigation, and just before placement of medicament. Randomization was done to place the medicaments into three groups: group I-CMCP, group II-TAP, and group III-herbal combination. Sample S3 was taken 48 hours after removal of medicament from the canals. The collected samples were transported via Amies media to the laboratory, where they were anaerobically incubated for 24 hours. Growth of E. Faecalis was observed, and manual counting of the colony-forming unit (CFU) was done. The change in CFU in all samples was calculated, and the results were statistically analyzed. Results: The results show that there is a change from S1 (TAP = 118.67 ± 122.48, herbal = 109.07 ± 106.43; CMCP = 110.73 ± 120.53) to S2 (TAP = 34.13 ± 63.47; herbal = 27.67 ± 39.39; CMCP = 16.40 ± 26.32) and S3 (TAP = 12.33 ± 24.82; herbal = 4.73 ± 12.78; CMCP = 3.40 ± 7.12). It is seen that there is a significant difference seen from S1 to S2 in all three groups (p ≤ 0.05) using repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. This shows that all three medicaments were effective in reducing bacterial counts of E. Faecalis from sample S1 (pre) to S3 (post) significantly after exposure to root canal bacterial flora for 48 hours (2 days). The pairwise comparison of the change in CFU within each group, S1-S3, also shows significant changes. There is a significant decrease in CFU seen from S1 to S2 and S1 to S3 but not from S2 to S3 for all three groups, which was evaluated using the post hoc Bonferroni test. It was also observed that in between the canals, although there was a change from S1 to S3 in terms of the CFU, there was no significant difference in the decrease in the bacterial count when intercanal comparison was made. There was, however, a change that was seen to be significant when values from each canal were compared from S1 to S3. Conclusion: All three medicaments have successfully shown a decrease in the numbers of E. faecalis, which the study aimed at checking. Although the effect varied intergroups, it was mild, so herbal alternatives could be used instead of antibiotics and CMCP. Also, because the local application is effective in controlling interappointment flare-ups, the medicaments can be successfully given without having to prescribe systemic antibiotics. How to cite this article: Tawde MM, Lakade L, Patil S, et al. Comparative Evaluation of Antimicrobial Efficacy of Triple Antibiotic Paste Herbal Combination and Camphorated Monochlorophenol as Intracanal Medicaments against Enterococcus faecalis in Deciduous Molars: An In Vivo Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(3):243-254.

A Comparative Evaluation of Herbal Extracts and Triple Antibiotic Paste as Intracanal Medicament against Enterococcus faecalis: A Microbiological Study.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to compare and evaluate the efficacy of herbal extracts over modified triple antibiotic paste (MTAP) as intracanal medicaments against Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis). Ginger, turmeric, and nutmeg extract were checked for antibacterial activity by agar disk diffusion method at 100, 50, 25, and 12.5% concentration. Combination groups were prepared, and the combination group showing the best zone of inhibition was further evaluated. Materials and methods: A total of 103 samples were taken and divided into five groups: group I-MTAP, group II-ginger, group III-turmeric, group IV-nutmeg, and group V-saline. Based on different concentrations, the groups were again subdivided into subgroups at 100, 50, 25, and 12.5%. Combination groups of ginger + nutmeg, ginger + turmeric, and turmeric + nutmeg were made and evaluated. The combination group showing the best zone of inhibition was again divided into 100, 50, 25, and 12.5% and further evaluated. Results: Modified triple antibiotic was effective in the elimination of E. faecalis. Herbal extracts showed a reduction in the number of E. faecalis. Nutmeg showed a reduction in E. faecalis, followed by ginger, followed by turmeric. Conclusion: This study shows that the combination of ginger + nutmeg at 12.5% concentration (35 mm) showed the highest zone of inhibition among all the herbal combinations, which is almost equal to that of MTAP. How to cite this article: Golla S, Gambhir N, Gupta N, et al. A Comparative Evaluation of Herbal Extracts and Triple Antibiotic Paste as Intracanal Medicament against Enterococcus faecalis: A Microbiological Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(3):285-290.

Development and Evaluation of Reconstructed Nanovesicles from Turmeric for Multifaceted Obesity Intervention.

The escalating prevalence of obesity poses significant health challenges due to its direct association with various diseases. Most existing medications, such as appetite suppressants and fat absorption inhibitors, suffer from limited effectiveness and undesirable side effects. Here, inspired by the versatile metabolic effects of turmeric, we developed a naturally derived nanoformulation of "Reconstructed Turmeric-derived Nanovesicles (Rec-tNVs)" for obesity treatment. Employing quantitative nanoflow cytometry, a four-orders-of-magnitude increase in curcumin content (∼108 molecules per particle) was identified in individual Rec-tNVs compared to their ultracentrifugation-isolated counterparts. Rec-tNVs, featuring highly aggregated curcumin arrangements and other coencapsulated bioactive compounds, demonstrated a dose-dependent lipid-lowering effect in mature 3T3-L1 cells by promoting lipolysis, suppressing lipogenesis, inducing adipocyte browning, and triggering apoptosis after internalization via multiple pathways. In vivo experiments revealed that Rec-tNVs alleviated obesity more effectively than free curcumin and achieved weight reductions of 18.68 and 14.56% through intragastric and subcutaneous delivery, respectively, in high-fat-diet mouse models over a four-week treatment period. These effects were attributed to targeted actions on adipose tissues and systemic impacts on metabolism and gut microbiota composition. Overall, this study underscores the multifaceted antiobesity efficacy of Rec-tNVs, and offers a promising paradigm for developing plant-derived nanovesicle-based therapeutics.

Effect of Curcuma longa (Turmeric), as an intra-canal medicament, on inter-appointment endodontic pain in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

Inter-appointment pain (IAP) is a subtype of postoperative pain which occurs between endodontic appointments. It may begin within a few hours after the first appointment and may continue for several days. Apart from mechanical instrumentation and thorough irrigation, intracanal medicaments play a central role in the disinfection of root canals and thus decreasing IAP. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Curcuma Longa as an intracanal medicament on IAP in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis (SIP). One hundred healthy adult patients having SIP in one of their single-rooted maxillary or mandibular teeth participated in this randomized, parallel, single-blinded clinical trial. After thorough biomechanical preparation, the root canals were randomly medicated with one of the following medicaments, Control (no medicament), Calcium Hydroxide, triple antibiotic paste (TAP), and Curcuma Longa. The pain was recorded using Visual analog scale at 4 h, 24 h, and every day until the seventh day. Data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U, and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. No statistical difference in pain scores was observed between Calcium Hydroxide, TAP or Curcuma Longa groups. It can be concluded that Curcuma Longa, Calcium hydroxide, and TAP are equally effective in controlling IAP.

Therapeutic potency of curcumin on radiodermatitis: A systematic review.

Objective: Radiodermatitis (RD) is a frequent adverse event of radiotherapy (RT). Currently, there is no consensus and approved protocol for the treatment of RD. Curcumin (CUR) is a natural polyphenol obtained from turmeric and it has low intrinsic toxicity in humans. The aim of this systematic review was to explore the efficacy of CUR for prevention and treatment of RD. Materials and Methods: A systematic literature review was performed in the following online databases: Cochrane library, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, MEDLINE, and EMBASE. Among the 5 selected records, 3 had a randomized clinical trial (RCT)-design and the other had a pilot and controlled study designed. The included studies were performed on breast cancer (N=3), head and neck cancers (N=1) and different types of cancer (N=1). Results: Four of the studies reported that the application of curcumin in cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy is associated with decreased intensity of radiodermatitis. However, one study did not report any significant effect of CUR on radiodermatitis. This review provides substantial evidence which confirm the clinical value of CUR in cancer supportive care. Conclusion: Further prospective clinical trials in larger scales are warranted in order to determine the " supplemental form and dose of CUR" for RD prevention and treatment in patients receiving radiotherapy.

The potential of turmeric extract-loaded chitosan microparticles for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders.

AIM: To develop turmeric extract-loaded chitosan microparticles for treating gastrointestinal disorders. METHODS: The microparticles were prepared using a spray-drying process, optimised the characteristics by biomarker loading, and encapsulation efficiency, and assessed for bioactivities related to gastrointestinal diseases. RESULTS: The optimised microparticles were spherical, with a mean diameter of 2.11 ± 0.34 µm, a SPAN of 4.46 ± 0.68, a zeta potential of +37.6 ± 0.2 mV, loading of 15.7% w/w curcuminoids, 5.4% w/w ar-turmerone, and encapsulation efficiency of 63.26 ± 1.62% w/w curcuminoids and 43.75 ± 1.33% w/w ar-turmerone. Encapsulation of turmeric extract improved release at 6 h by 20 times and mucoadhesion by 3.6 times. The microparticles exhibited high acid-neutralising capacity (1.64 ± 0.34 mEq/g) and inhibited nitric oxide production about twice as effectively as the turmeric extract, while maintaining antioxidant and antibacterial activities. CONCLUSION: Encapsulation of turmeric extract in chitosan microparticles effectively enhanced therapeutic potential for gastrointestinal disorders.

Study the effect of Enterobacter cloacae on the gene expression, productivity, and quality traits of Curcuma longa L. Plant.

Overuse of artificial chemical fertilizers could be detrimental to the environment. Utilizing beneficial microorganisms as biofertilizers is a sustainable technique that promotes soil health, crop yield, and ecosystem preservation. Curcuma longa L. is utilized as a medication since it has its antibacterial, anti-microbial, and anti-tumor characteristics, which reduce inflammation and hasten wound healing. The effect of E. cloacae strain MSR1, which is common in the roots of alfalfa grown in the Al-Ahsaa region, on C. longa plants is being investigated. C. longa rhizomes were planted under greenhouse conditions after being submerged in a solution of E. cloacae strain MSR1 (OD 500) or water treatment as a control for 12 hours. After 240 days of growing, ten randomly selected plants from each treatment were collected, and the vegetative growth and yield metrics were assessed. To investigate how E. cloacae influences C. longa production and chemical composition (photosynthetic pigment, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and curcuminoid), measurements were conducted as well as genes diketide-CoA and curcumin synthases genes. Our research showed that C. longa's growth and yield were favorably impacted by E. cloacae. Significant increases in the related plants' chlorophyll a,b, carotenoid, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels were likewise a reflection of the enhanced effects shown in the growth and yield parameters. Treatment with E. cloacae raised the curcuminoid's three sub-components' compositions to varying degrees: bisdemethoxycurcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and curcumin. Comparing E. cloacae treated plants to the control, high expression levels of the genes diketide-CoA and curcumin synthase-1, -2, and 3 were also found. The treatment of E. cloacae is a good biostimulant candidate for boosting growth and yield as well as raising the medicinal qualities of C. longa, according to the overall results.

Cytotoxic potential of Curcuma caesia rhizome extract and derived gold nanoparticles in targeting breast cancer cell lines.

Among all types of cancer, breast cancer is the most aggressive, as it is responsible for most of the cancer related death of women. Though several medical therapies are available, the scenario of curing such disease is not favorable. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find alternatives to deal with it. The knowledge of ethnopharmacy might give some better solution to mitigate such deadly diseases. Here, we are using the rhizome of Curcuma caesia Roxb. (Black turmeric), as well as gold nanoparticles (GNPs) synthesized with it to check their specific cytotoxic potentiality against breast cancer cell lines. In our study, ethanolic extract was used to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of the rhizome. GNPs were synthesized by using the same extract and characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA). The TEM, XRD, FTIR and TGA results revealed the successful synthesis and capping of GNPs. The UV-Vis Spectrum showed a sharp and narrow absorption peak at 550 nm and HRTEM confirmed both the stability and successful synthesis of the nanoparticles. The MTT assay of the crude extract revealed strong cytotoxicity against breast cancer cell lines viz. MCF-7 (ER+) and MDA MB-231 (Triple Negative Breast Cancer, TNBC) by showing IC50 values as 15.70 ± 0.029 and 21.57 ± 0.031 µg/mL respectively. For extract mediated GNPs, the IC50 values were found to be 6.44 ± 0.045 and 5.87 ± 0.031µg/mL respectively in both breast cancer cell lines. As the IC50 value for GNPs was found to be much lower than that of crude extract, it indicates a higher efficiency of the GNP. However, both the rhizome extract and its mediated GNPs showed more toxicity towards MDA MB-231 (TNBC) cell lines. It was also observed that the GNPs showed more toxicity towards TNBC cell lines compared to the rhizome extract. No toxicity was found in case of other cell lines such as L 929 and HeLa for both crude extract as well as for GNPs. These observations suggests that both the crude rhizome extract and its derived GNPs exhibit selective cytotoxic potential against breast cancer cell lines, which might be exploited for target specific treatment. Moreover, with an understanding of the mechanism behind the GNPs therapeutic efficiency, it can be developed as a personalized therapy to treat such type of cancers.

Turmeric-induced Liver Injury.

The use of herbal and dietary supplements has gained an increasing foothold in the United States. While often touted as safer alternatives to more traditional "western" therapeutics, the pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of these substances, their interactions with other medications, their purity, and individual pharmacogenomics, remain unknown. Turmeric is a popular supplement that has been demonstrated to be safe, and even hepatoprotective. Recently, however, there have been several reports of turmeric-induced liver injury. We report a case of drug-induced liver injury due to turmeric that was complicated by acute liver failure and hepatorenal syndrome.

Effect of West Indian Bay Leaf (Pimenta racemosa) and Turmeric (Curcuma longa) Essential Oils on Preserving Raw Chicken Breasts.

Research background: While the use of chemical preservatives in meat may appear to be tremendously advantageous, they have long been purported to increase the risk of incidence of certain types of cancers. Consequently, many people have opted for minimally processed alternatives. This consumer shift has placed substantial pressure on the food industry to implement more natural alternatives to these synthetic preservatives in the meat industry. Research on plant extracts as potential agents for food additives is increasing. The bioactive components present in West Indian bay leaf and turmeric essential oils have a promising potential for use as novel, green preservatives in the meat industry. Experimental approach: Raw chicken breast samples (28 g) were each treated with different volumes (0.5, 1 and 1.5 mL) of the essential oil of West Indian bay leaf or turmeric or their mixture (1:1 to make up a final volume of 0.5, 1 and 1.5 mL). Physicochemical, microbiological and sensory evaluations were performed on the fresh and treated samples stored for 14 days at 4 °C. Results and conclusions: The West Indian bay leaf oil had a higher extraction yield and total phenolic content, while the turmeric oil had a higher total flavonoid content. The most effective treatments, compared to the control, significantly (p<0.05) minimized the pH increase by 13.9 % (1.5 mL bay leaf oil), reduced texture loss by 44.8 % (1.5 mL oil mixture) and reduced protein loss by 98.9 % (1 mL bay leaf oil). Most treated samples had reduced microbial loads, with the turmeric oil showing the highest efficacy against lactic acid bacteria, yeasts and moulds. Treated samples had significantly higher (p<0.05) sensory scores than the control on the final day of storage, with the 1.5 mL oil mixture proving to be the most effective, as the storage life of the chicken breast sample was extended by 6 days. Novelty and scientific contribution: This study has shown for the first time that the essential oil from turmeric and West Indian bay leaf can extend the shelf life of raw chicken breast and highlights the potential of the oil as natural preservative agents in lieu of synthetic alternatives.

Effect of curcumin-donepezil combination on spatial memory, astrocyte activation, and cholinesterase expressions in brain of scopolamine-treated rats.

BACKGROUND: The study investigated the effect of co-administration of curcumin and donepezil on several markers of cognitive function (such as spatial memory, astrocyte activation, cholinesterase expressions) in the brain cortex and hippocampus of scopolamine-treated rats. METHOD AND RESULTS: For seven consecutive days, a pre-treatment of curcumin (50 mg/kg) and/or donepezil (2.5 mg/kg) was administered. On the seventh day, scopolamine (1 mg/kg) was administered to elicit cognitive impairment, 30 min before memory test was conducted. This was followed by evaluating changes in spatial memory, cholinesterase, and adenosine deaminase (ADA) activities, as well as nitric oxide (NO) level were determined. Additionally, RT-qPCR for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and cholinesterase gene expressions was performed in the brain cortex and hippocampus. Also, GFAP immunohistochemistry  of the brain tissues for neuronal injury were performed in the brain cortex and hippocampus. In comparison to the control group, rats given scopolamine had impaired memory, higher levels of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and ADA activities, as well as elevated markers of oxidative stress. In addition to enhanced GFAP immunoreactivity, there was also overexpression of the GFAP and BChE genes in the brain tissues. The combination of curcumin and donepezil was, however, observed to better ameliorate these impairments in comparison to the donepezil-administered rat group. CONCLUSION: Hence, this evidence provides more mechanisms to support the hypothesis that the concurrent administration of curcumin and donepezil mitigates markers of cognitive dysfunction in scopolamine-treated rat model.

Turmeric rhizomes reduced in vitro methane production and improved gas production and nutrient degradability.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of dry turmeric rhizomes on in vitro biogas production and diet fermentability. Turmeric rhizomes were included at gradually increased levels: 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2% of a diet containing per kg dr matter (DM): 500 g concentrate feed mixture, 400 g berseem hay and 100 g rice straw, and incubated for 48 h. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis showed that ar-turmerone, α-turmerone and ß-turmerone were the major bioactive compounds in the rhizomes. Turmeric rhizomes increased (p < 0.01) asymptotic gas production (GP) and rate and lag of CH4 production and decreased (p < 0.01) rate of GP, lag of GP, asymptotic CH4 production and proportion of CH4 production. Turmeric rhizome administration linearly increased (p < 0.01) DM and fiber degradability and concentrations of total short-chain fatty acids, acetic and propionic acids and ammonia-N and quadratically (p < 0.05) decreased fermentation pH. It is concluded that including up to 2% turmeric rhizomes improved in vitro ruminal fermentation and decreased CH4 production.

Enhanced absorption of prenylated cinnamic acid derivatives from Brazilian green propolis by turmeric in humans and rats.

Prenylated cinnamic acid derivatives are the bioactive components of Brazilian green propolis (BGP). The effect of other botanical components on the pharmacokinetic profiles of these derivatives remains relatively unexplored. In the present study, we investigated the influence of several herbal extracts (turmeric, ginkgo leaf, coffee fruit, soybean, and gotu kola) on the plasma concentrations of cinnamic acid derivatives after BGP consumption. When the herbal extracts were co-administered with BGP in the clinical study, the area under the curve (AUC) values of artepillin C and drupanin, the major BGP components in plasma, were significantly increased by 1.7- and 1.5-fold, respectively, compared to those after BGP administration alone. Among the herbal extracts administered to rats, turmeric extract increased the AUC. Furthermore, a bidirectional transport assay suggested that artepillin C and drupanin are substrates of breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), a drug elimination transporter. These results suggest that curcumin-containing turmeric extract may increase the plasma concentrations of artepillin C and drupanin via BCRP. Our findings enabled us to estimate the food-herb and herb-herb interactions in vivo in foods and herbal medicines containing cinnamic acid derivatives and prenylated compounds.

Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry Coupled with Unsupervised Methods for Advanced Saffron Authenticity Screening.

Saffron, renowned for its aroma and flavor, is susceptible to adulteration due to its high value and demand. Current detection methods, including ISO standards, often fail to identify specific adulterants such as safflower or turmeric up to 20% (w/w). Therefore, the quest continues for robust screening methods using advanced techniques to tackle this persistent challenge of safeguarding saffron quality and authenticity. Advanced techniques such as time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS), with its molecular specificity and high sensitivity, offer promising solutions. Samples of pure saffron and saffron adulterated with safflower and turmeric at three inclusion levels (5%, 10%, and 20%) were analyzed without prior treatment. Spectral analysis revealed distinct signatures for pure saffron, safflower, and turmeric. Through principal component analysis (PCA), TOF-SIMS effectively discriminated between pure saffron and saffron adulterated with turmeric and safflower at different inclusion levels. The variation between the groups is attributed to the characteristic peaks of safflower and the amino group peaks and mineral peaks of saffron. Additionally, a study was conducted to demonstrate that semi-quantification of the level of safflower inclusion can be achieved from the normalized values of its characteristic peaks in the saffron matrix.

Nano-Integrated Plant Tissue Culture to Increase the Rate of Callus Induction, Growth, and Curcuminoid Production in Curcuma longa.

Turmeric has attracted a significant amount of interest in recent years due to its strong antimicrobial properties. The tissue culture of turmeric is preferred to obtain disease-free, highest number of plantlets with good uniform chemistry. However, there is a need to increase the speed of the whole process to meet the growing demand for planting materials and to save time and resources. Iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs) showed positive effects on callus initiation time, proliferation rate, percent root response, shoot length, percent rooting, and number of roots per explant. Highest callus induction, i.e., 80%, was recorded in cultures that were grown in the presence of 15 mg/L of Fe3O4 NPs. Callus initiated earlier in culture tubes that received green synthesized iron nanoparticles in a concentration between 10-15 mg/L. Biofabricated nanoparticles were characterized for their size, physiochemical, and optical properties through UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, and SEM. Curcuminoids profiling was performed by implementing LC-Ms that revealed increased quantities in plantlets grown in nano-supplemented media when compared to the control.

Targeting the Akt signaling pathway: Exploiting curcumin's anticancer potential.

Cancer is recognized as one of the leading causes of death worldwide. In recent years, advancements in early detection and expanding treatment options have contributed to a decrease in mortality rates. However, the emergence of drug-resistant cancers necessitates the exploration of innovative and more effective drugs. The Akt kinases play a central role in various signaling pathways that regulate crucial cellular processes, including cell growth, proliferation, survival, angiogenesis, and glucose metabolism. Due to frequent disruptions of the Akt signaling pathway in numerous human cancers and its broad biological implications, targeting this pathway has become a key focus in combating tumor aggressiveness and a promising avenue for therapeutic intervention. Curcumin, a compound found in turmeric, has been extensively studied for its potential as an anti-cancer agent. It demonstrates inhibitory effects on cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis by influencing various processes involved in tumor growth and development. These effects are achieved through negative regulation of transcription factors, growth factors, cytokines, protein kinases, and other oncogenic molecules. This review aims to explore curcumin's anticancer activity against different types of cancer mediated via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, as well as its practical applications in treatment.

Effects of dietary supplementation of cobiotic based on Agave fructans on growth performance, blood parameters, oxidative damage and immune status of broiler.

This study evaluated the effect of cobiotic (CO) composed of organic fructans powder of Agave tequilana and turmeric powder of Curcuma longa L. as an alternative of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) on growth performance, blood parameters, intestinal pH, oxidative stress, and cytokines serum levels of broiler chickens. A total of 135 one-day-old Ross 308 broilers distributed to five experimental groups, which included starter or finisher standard diets without AGPs (CON), CON + 0.25 COLI-ZIN g/kg feed (AGP), CON + 0.1 g Agave fructans/kg feed (AF), CON + 0.5 g turmeric powder/kg feed (TP) and CON + 0.1 g AF + 0.5 g TP /kg feed (CO), for 49 days. AF followed by TP, decreased feed intake, obtaining the best FCR. AGP increased the heterophil-lymphocyte ratio compared to other groups. CO significantly decreased the pH of the cecal content. AF increased IL-10 levels, while TP decreased it. AF decreased the IL-1ß levels. The present study showed that including a cobiotic based on AF and TP or components separately in a broilers diet improved growth performance, modified intestinal and cecum pH, and stimulated the immune system, which suggests CO as a safe alternative to AGP.