What is turmeric?

One of the most discussed and best-selling medicinal plants in the Western world over the past decade. Thousands of studies have examined its medicinal properties and therapeutic potential; the source describes its efficacy as research-supported.
Its properties were known much earlier: turmeric has been used medicinally for thousands of years in Indian Ayurveda and Chinese medicine.


What is turmeric’s active constituent?

Turmeric’s active constituent is curcumin. The source describes it as helping with many different health conditions.
Research findings
Studies cited by the source describe strong anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anticancer, antifungal and antioxidant properties, as well as support for immune and digestive function, among other effects.

 


Bioavailability of natural turmeric-root extract

One challenge is the bioavailability of turmeric-root extract in its natural form. When choosing a supplement, the source therefore emphasises sufficient concentration, delivery to target organs and effective absorption.

 


Nanotechnology: an innovative approach presented as offering optimal absorption.

This technology uses special processes to turn active constituents into nanoparticles.
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Their small size allows highly concentrated supplements with high absorption, rather than being “lost” in digestion. The source describes greatly increased bioavailability and delivery to organs, tissues and cells, including crossing the BBB (blood–brain barrier).

 


Study of nano-curcumin for cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients

COVID-19, the respiratory illness discussed throughout the preceding year and a half,
emerged in late 2019 and created a worldwide pandemic emergency. The original article was written while the pandemic was ongoing.
Common clinical symptoms include fever, dry cough, fatigue, headache, sore throat and loss of taste or smell.
Severe cases can involve respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome, leading to hospitalisation and even death.
The virus can trigger an abnormal immune response and increased pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, provoking acute inflammation and immune overreaction that damages lung tissue.
This excessive response, or cytokine storm, can damage systems beyond respiration, particularly the heart, intestine, blood vessels and kidneys.
SIRS — systemic inflammatory response syndrome.

 

A cytokine storm is a potentially fatal immune response caused by positive feedback between cytokines and immune cells, alongside very high levels of different cytokines.
The source proposes that anti-inflammatory plants that reduce cytokine-storm drivers could provide an effective treatment approach.

 


A study of nano-curcumin for cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients was published on PMC in October 2020.

It was conducted at the hospital and university in Tabriz, Iran.
The study examined nano-curcumin’s effects on these cytokines.
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial included 40 COVID-19 patients aged 19–69 hospitalised with the illness.
The treatment group received 160 mg nano-curcumin daily as four 40-mg capsules for 14 days; controls received placebo capsules.
After treatment, almost all clinical manifestations (fever, cough, shortness of breath) improved significantly in the nano-curcumin group. The findings suggested potential as a novel COVID-19 treatment through regulation of inflammation.
Mortality was 20% (4 of 20) with nano-curcumin and 40% (8 of 20) with placebo.

 


Nano-curcumin for metabolic syndrome

Another clinical trial relevant to metabolic syndrome examined nano-curcumin in overweight patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Published in January 2019 in
Nutrition & Metabolism volume 16
The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial at the Oil Company Central Hospital in Tehran included 84 overweight/obese patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, aged 25–50.
They were randomly divided into two groups of 42. One received two 40-mg nano-curcumin capsules daily for 3 months, alongside a low-calorie diet and physical activity.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is characterised by elevated glucose, lipid and inflammatory measures and is aggravated by overweight or obesity.
Curcumin participates in metabolic functions related to improving insulin resistance. Despite its reported health benefits, low stability and bioavailability affect therapeutic efficacy. This trial studied nano-curcumin because of its higher absorption and bioavailability.
At trial completion, the nano-curcumin group showed improvements in glucose, blood lipids, inflammation and fatty-liver disease grade.

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