Zein Nanoparticles Improve the Oral Bioavailability of Curcumin in Wistar Rats.

Curcumin is a natural compound obtained from turmeric root with high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. However, clinical application of curcumin has been limited due to its low solubility and bioavailability and rapid metabolism and degradation. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of curcumin incorporation in zein nanoparticles on the pharmacokinetic parameters of systemic curcumin in plasma. Wistar rats were administered a single oral dose of 250 mg/kg of standard curcumin (control) or nanocurcumin (zein-based nanoparticles, Nucaps). The proposed new formulation was also compared with two commercially available curcumin complexes. Blood samples were collected at different times, and plasma levels were determined using HPLC-MS/MS. Overall, nanocurcumin (Nucaps) formulation was well tolerated and showed a 9-fold increase in oral bioavailability when compared to the standard curcumin natural extract. In addition, the nanoparticles prepared in this study demonstrated a bioavailability profile superior to that of other bioavailability-enhanced curcumin complexes currently available in the marketplace. Thus, our nanoparticle-based formulation has shown great potential as a nutraceutical for the oral administration of curcumin.

Acute Effects of Turmeric Extracts on Knee Joint Pain: A Pilot, Randomized Controlled Trial.

Turmeric extracts (TEs) have been shown to be suitable as a pain treatment for human joint arthritis. In a pilot, randomized clinical trial, 68 individuals with mild/moderate knee joint pain (KJP) consumed a new formulation of water-soluble TEs and insoluble curcuminoids (B-Turmactive®) or brewer's yeast as a placebo for 1 week. Our hypothesis was that B-Turmactive would have a short-term analgesic effect on KJP measured by the self-reported Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). After 3 days and 1 week, both treatments reduced pain when walking on a flat surface (P < .01), going up or down stairs (P < .001), and sitting or lying (P < .05), but only B-Turmactive reduced pain at night while in bed and in an upright standing position (P < .01). Concerning global KJP, it was reduced by both treatments after 3 days and 1 week of the intervention (P < .001), being less with B-Turmactive after 1 week (P = .012 vs. 3 weeks). Although no intertreatment differences were observed, only B-Turmactive decreased high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels (P = .045) at 1 week, which indicates a prompt analgesic effect mediated by a decrease in inflammatory status.

Estudio piloto sobre el efecto de Policol(R) One en la hipercolesterolemia leve-moderada / Efeito de Policol(R) One na redução dos níveis de hipercolesterolémia ligeira a moderada / Effect of Policol(R) One in the reduction of midhigh cholesterol levels

Los niveles elevados de colesterol en sangre representan uno de los factores de riesgo más críticos a nivel mundial para el desarrollo de enfermedades cardiovasculares. En este artículo se presentan los resultados de un estudio observacional prospectivo que evaluó la eficacia y seguridad del producto Policol(R) One para reducir el la hipercolesterolemia leve-moderada. El producto se compone de extracto de levadura roja de arroz (Monascus purpureus), policosanol, coenzima Q10 y plantas consideradas tradicionalmente como hipolipemiantes y hepatoprotectoras: extractos de gugul (Commiphora mukul), alcachofera (Cynara scolymus), diente de león (Taraxacum officinale) y polvo de alpiste (Phalaris canariensis). A dosis de 1 cápsula al día durante 3 meses, los participantes redujeron significativamente sus niveles de colesterol total (16,8%) y colesterol-LDL (23,8%); reduciendo también los triglicéridos (13,4%) e incrementando el colesterol-HDL (9,1%). No se observaron efectos adversos en ningún caso. Estos resultados demuestran que el producto es eficaz y seguro para la reducción del colesterol leve-moderado, y podría suponer un complemento a otros tratamientos para estos pacientes (AU)

Os altos níveis de colesterol sérico representam um dos fatores de risco mais críticos no desenvolvimento de doenças cardiovasculares em todo o mundo. Neste trabalho, são apresentados os resultados de um estudo observacional prospectivo sobre a eficácia e segurança do produto Policol(R) One para reduzir a hipercolesterolémia ligeira a moderada. O produto contém arroz vermelho fermentado (Monascus purpureus), policosanol (extraído de Saccharum officinarum), coenzima Q10 e plantas tradicionalmente utilizadas como hipolipemiantes e hepatoprotetoras (guggul (extrato seco de resina de Commiphora mukul), alpiste (semente de Phalaris canariensis), alcachofra (extrato seco de folha de Cynara scolymus) e dente de leão (extrato seco de raiz de Taraxacum officinale)). Com uma dosagem de 1 cápsula por dia durante 3 meses, os participantes reduziram significativamente o seu colesterol total (16,8%) e LDL-colesterol (23,8%), reduzindo igualmente os níveis de triglicéridos (13,4%) e aumentando os níveis de colesterol HDL (9,1%). Não existiram relatos de efeito adversos. Estes resultados indicam que o produto é eficaz e seguro para reduzir os níveis de colesterol ligeiro a moderado e pode representar um complemento de outros tratamentos para esses doentes (AU)

High serum-cholesterol levels represent one of the most critical risk factors in the development of cardiovascular diseases all over the world. In this paper, the results of an observational prospective study on the efficacy and safety of the product Policol(R) One to reduce low-moderate hypercholesterolemia are shown. The product contains red yeast rice (Monascus purpureus), policosanol, coenzyme Q10 and hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective plants used in folk medicine: extracts of guggul (Commiphora mukul), artichoke (Cynara scolymus) and dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), and birdseed powder (Phalaris canariensis). At a dosage of 1 capsule per day for 3 months, the participants significantly reduced their total cholesterol (16,8%) and LDL-cholesterol (23,8%); with an additional decrease in levels (13,4%) and increasing their HDL-cholesterol levels (9,1%). No side effects were reported in any case. These results indicate that the product is effective and safe to reduce low-moderate cholesterol levels, and it may represent a natural complement to other treatments for these patients (AU)