Turmeric could be used to treat dementia, according to a new study of rats.
Dementia is a name for a general loss of brain function, which can be brought about by disease or injury. The condition can affect thinking, language, judgment, and behavior of people suffering from such losses.
Aromatic (ar-) turmerone, a bioactive compound found in the spice, was found to promote the growth of stem cells in the brain known as endogenous neutral stem cells (NSC). These structures are able to develop into various forms of brain neurons. Their growth aids recovery from neurodegenerative diseases and damage, such as Alzheimer's and stroke. This study was the first to show the effect of the aromatic chemical on natural repair systems in human brains.
Ar-tumerone was shown, in previous studies, to block the development of microglia cells, which can cause inflammation in human brains, a common condition in patients suffering from neurological disorders.
Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine researchers in Jülich, Germany studied the effect of the chemical on the growth of the stem cells of fetal rats. Tests were carried out both in laboratory equipment, as well as in developing animals.
In vitro ("test tube") experiments examined the growth of NSC in six different concentrations of the turmeric-derived chemical, over a period of three days. The substance increased the growth of stem cells by up to 80 percent in the study. There was no effect on neural cell death at these levels of NSC.
Live rats were also injected with ar-turmerone, and the effects of the compound on brain cells were monitored, using PET scans. The hippocampus of the animals, a part of the brain directing the formation and storage of memories, was found to increase in mass. The subventricular zone, one of only two areas of the brain known to normally form new cells in mammalian brains, also became larger in rats taking part in the study.
"While several substances have been described to promote stem cell proliferation in the brain, fewer drugs additionally promote the differentiation of stem cells into neurons, which constitutes a major goal in regenerative medicine. Our findings on aromatic turmerone take us one step closer to achieving this goal," Adele Rueger, lead author of an article detailing the research, said.
Curcumin is another bioactive compound found in turmeric that has been shown in previous studies to prevent damage to brain cells, as well as acting as an anti-inflammatory agent.
Turmeric is a spice with a slightly bitter taste, most often used in curries. It is also used to color mustard, cheese and butter. It is popularly used medicinally to treat stomach aches, diarrhea, and heartburn.
Study of Aromatic (ar-) turmerone and its effect on neurological disorders was profiled in the open-access journal Stem Cell Research & Therapy.
