Protective Effects of Curcumin Phytosomes Against High-Fat Diet-Induced Atherosclerosis.

Curcumin has been shown to have beneficial effects on pathogenic factors involved in the development of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of curcumin phytosomes on atherosclerosis induced by high-fat diet in rabbits. A total of 16 adult male New Zealand white rabbits (1.8-2 kg) were fed with a diet containing 0.5% cholesterol for 4 weeks. The rabbits were randomly divided into four groups of four animals each. Group I orally received PBS for 4 weeks. Group II animals were treated with curcumin-phosphatidylcholine solid state dispersion (Meriva®, Indena, Italy) suspended in normal saline at doses equivalent to 100 mg/kg of curcuminoids per day p.o., for 4 weeks. Groups III and IV were treated with curcumin-phosphatidylserine solid state dispersion (Meriserin®, Indena, Italy) suspended in normal saline at doses equivalent to 10 and 100 mg/kg of curcuminoids, respectively, per day p.o., for 4 weeks. For atherosclerosis evaluation, histological examinations on aortic arch section were performed. Blood samples were obtained to determine lipid profile and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels. Curcumin-phosphatidylserine (100 mg/kg) therapy resulted in a significant reduction in grading of atherosclerotic plaque and intima/media thickness ratio (P < 0.05) and decreased presence of inflammatory cells in the atherosclerotic lesions compared to the control group. However, no significant differences were observed between the curcumin-phospholipid preparations and the control group regarding lipid profile and hs-CRP levels. Results of the present study revealed an atheroprotective effect of curcumin-phosphatidylserine (100 mg/kg) solid dispersion as revealed by a reduction in the development of atherosclerotic lesions.

Demethoxycurcumin: A naturally occurring curcumin analogue for treating non-cancerous diseases.

Turmeric extracts contain three primary compounds, which are commonly referred to as curcuminoids. They are curcumin, demethoxycurcumin (DMC), and bisdemethoxycurcumin. While curcumin has been the most extensively studied of the curcuminoids, it suffers from low overall oral bioavailability due to extremely low absorption as a result of low water solubility and instability at acidic pH, as well as rapid metabolism and clearance from the body. However, DMC, which lacks the methoxy group on the benzene ring of the parent structure, has much greater chemical stability at physiological pH and has been recently reported to exhibit antitumor properties. However, the treatment of noncancerous diseases with DMC has not been comprehensively reviewed. Therefore, here we evaluate published scientific literature on the therapeutic properties of DMC. The beneficial pharmacological actions of DMC include anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, antihypertensive, antimalarial, antimicrobial, antifungal, and vasodilatory properties. In addition, DMC's ability to ameliorate the effects of free radicals and an environment characterized by oxidative stress caused by the accumulation of advanced glycation end-products associated with diabetic nephropathy, as well as DMC's capacity to inhibit the migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells following balloon angioplasty are also addressed. This review collates the available literature regarding the therapeutic possibilities of DMC in noncancerous conditions.

Demethoxycurcumin: A naturally occurring curcumin analogue with antitumor properties.

The eradication of cancer in a patient remains an elusive challenge despite advances in early detection and diagnosis, chemo- and immunotherapy, pinpoint radiation treatments, and expert surgical intervention. Although significant gains have been made in our understanding of cancer cell biology, a definite cure for most cancers does not exist at present. Thus, it is not surprising that the research and medical communities continue to explore the importance and therapeutic potential of natural products in their multimodality cancer treatment approach. Curcuminoids found in turmeric are one such class of natural products that have been extensively investigated for their potential to halt the progression of cancer cell proliferation and, more important, to stop metastasis from occurring. In this review, we examine one curcuminoid (demethoxycurcumin [DMC]) largely because of its increased stability and better aqueous solubility at physiological pH, unlike the more well-known curcuminoid (curcumin), which is largely unabsorbed after oral ingestion. The present review will focus on the signaling pathways that DMC utilizes to modulate the growth, invasion, and metastasis of cancer cells in an effort to provide enhanced mechanistic insight into DMC's action as it pertains to brain, ovarian, breast, lung, skin, and prostate cancer. Additionally, this review will attempt to provide an overview of DMC's mechanism of action by modulating apoptosis, cell cycle, angiogenesis, metastasis, and chemosensitivity. Lastly, it is hoped that increased understanding will be gained concerning DMC's interactive role with microRNA-551a, 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, nuclear factor-κB, Wnt inhibitory factor-1, and heat shock protein 70 to affect the progression of cancer.

Effects of Crocin on Diabetic Maculopathy: A Placebo-Controlled Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: Diabetic macular edema (DME) is one of the most important sight-threatening complications in patients with diabetes. Owing to neuroprotective properties, crocin, as the main constituent in saffron, is thought to be useful in the treatment and prevention of diabetic maculopathy. The aim of this trial was to evaluate the effects of crocin as a supplement on reducing inflammation in patients with diabetic maculopathy. DESIGN: Double-masked, placebo controlled, phase 2 randomized clinical trial. METHODS: Participants: In this study, 101 eyes of 60 patients with refractory diabetic maculopathy to conventional therapy including macular photocoagulation and intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agent (bevacizumab) with or without steroid (triamcinolone) were studied in 3 groups. INTERVENTION: Patients in the crocin groups received 5 mg or 15 mg crocin tablets per day for 3 months, whereas patients in the placebo group received 1 placebo tablet per day during the study. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT) were measured before, every month during, and 3 months after intervention. Biochemical blood tests were also evaluated before and after trial. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The BCVA and CMT were evaluated as the primary outcomes, whereas HbA1c and fasting blood sugar (FBS) were studied as the secondary outcomes in this trial. RESULTS: One hundred and one eyes were enrolled in this trial and were divided into 3 groups (crocin 5 mg, n = 34; crocin 15 mg, n = 33; and placebo, n = 34). According to our data, administration of crocin 15 mg tablet per day could significantly decrease HbA1c (P value = .024; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.3-0.96), and CMT (P value = .005; 95% CI, 32.75-126.99) and improve BCVA (logMAR changes; P value = .012; 95% CI, 0.23-0.69) compared to the placebo group. Although administration of crocin 5 mg tablet per day could clinically improve HbA1c, FBS, CMT, and BCVA, the difference was not significant compared to the placebo group. CONCLUSION: This study indicated the effect of crocin as a potent antioxidant and neuroprotective for treatment of refractory DME in the short term; however, the clinical significance is yet to be proved in a study with larger sample size and longer duration of follow-up and also in treatment-naïve patients.

An overview of skin lesions adapted to Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Persian Medicine.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) which is prevalent in all continents and is classified by the WHO as one of the neglected tropical diseases, existed in the past also, and discovered ancient works confirm this issue. The lack of adaptation of diseases between Persian Medicine (PM) and Modern medicine, led to no usage of effective therapeutic experiences of prior physicians. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is finding skin lesions adapted to CL in PM for usage of same disease treatment in the next clinical trials, and the use of approved therapies in CL. METHODS: In a narrative review, without time limitation, documentary study was conducted for different names and clinical aspects of CL in printed and electronic resources of modern medicine such as: Rook's Textbook of Dermatology, Harper's Textbook of Pediatric Dermatology, PubMed, and Embase. Then, found names were searched in printed and electronic resources of PM such as: Al-Qanun fi al-tibb, Al-Tasrif leman ajeza an-e-Taliff, JamiTib 1.5 published by Noorsoft.org. Then, skin lesions which were similar to CL with these aspects were searched: clinical manifestation and forms, chronicity, curability, mosquito bite, were studied in references of PM. Finally, matching, syllogism and logical inference were performed and conclusion was made. RESULTS: Forty-five names for CL were found in the searched resources. However, only Balkhieh, Kheyroonieh and Baghdadi button were names found in PM resources. Also, from 61 studied skin lesions in PM resources, only 6 cases had similarities to CL. CONCLUSION: In spite of the existence of CL's similarity with Balkhieh, Kheyroonieh and the Baghdadi button, there are serious differentiations. Zat-ol-asl rashes and reddish solb rashes, kinds of stranger rashes, probably adapted with CL.