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Natural cortisone turmeric has a strong anti-inflammatory effect
Turmeric enjoys a growing popularity as a spice in this country. Curcumin is known primarily as a curry ingredient, but there are also many other uses in the kitchen. From a medical point of view, turmeric is quite interesting in view of a convincing anti-inflammatory effects. Scientists have now deciphered the mechanism of the anti-inflammatory effect of curcumin.
Like "cortisone", the curry ingredient curcumin has an anti-inflammatory effect, says the Saarland University from the results of the research. The research team around Prof. Alexandra K. Kiemer and Dr. med. In the current study, Jessica Hoppstädter from the University of Saarland has deciphered how turmeric helps against inflammation. The researchers published their results in the journal "Journal of Biological Chemistry".
Turmeric unfolds by its action on the so-called Gilz protein anti-inflammatory effect. (Image: emuck / fotolia.com) Effect studied in cell cultures
Together with researchers from the Universities of Frankfurt am Main and Perugia (Italy), Kiemer and Hoppstädter investigated the effect of curcumin on cell cultures. This is gained from turmeric (also called yellow ginger, saffron root or turmeric), which is likely to be known to most people as the main ingredient of curry powder. In many cases, the spice has already been attributed positive health effects in the past. "Especially for the turmeric ingredient curcumin, which is responsible for the typical yellow curry color, various studies prove a salutary effect," said the Saarland University.
Curcumin affects an anti-inflammatory protein
The scientists now examined in their study what the anti-inflammatory effect of the spice could be based on. Like cortisone, curcumin affects a specific protein ("Gilz") that plays a key role in inflammation in the human body, according to the University. "Gilz" stands for "glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper," explains Prof. Kiemer. The Gilz protein typically disappears in inflammatory processes, but is specifically increased by Kurkumin formed.
Cortisone works the same way
According to the researchers, the Gilz protein plays a central role in the human immune system and, in particular, in inflammatory processes. The protein normally suppresses inflammatory reactions. In inflammation, however, this protein disappears, says Prof. Kiemer. "In inflammation, the immune cells degrade the molecule," adds Dr. Hoppstädter, first author of the current study. When treated with cortisone, among other things, an increased formation of the protein is induced, which leads to the decay of inflammation. However, the preparations cause many changes in the cell and have not negligible side effects, the researchers explain.
Targeted anti-inflammatory effect of curcumin
The curry ingredient curcumin has, according to the scientists, a cortisone-like effect, without negatively affecting the cell processes, which are typically associated with cortisone side effects. "We were able to show that curcumin not only acts unspecifically, but also has a specific anti-inflammatory effect. Using experimental series in cell models, we can prove that the spice, like cortisone, specifically influences the protein Gilz, according to Prof. Kiemer. Curcumin also causes Gilz to be induced, "but with a completely different mechanism than cortisone," adds Hoppstädter.
Hope for new drugs
However, the research does not mean that simple curry powder can cure inflammation, the researchers emphasize. Such concentrations of curcumin as in the experiments are not attainable by the consumption, so Hoppstädter. In addition, curcumin is poorly water-soluble and therefore poorly absorbed by the body. "This is basic research, but it may be the basis for developing drugs that have no or less side effects than cortisone," explains Professor Kiemer. The findings may help in the future to develop new effective drugs for chronic inflammatory diseases such as Crohn's disease, the scientists hope. (Fp)