This is an interesting
effort. Curcumin is modified to pass the
blood brain barrier and it’s effect is pronounced enough to warrant serious
work. The empirical work was always
suggestive but here we have moved to a strong agent that promotes the desired
effect.
Hopefully it does not bite us as
often happens on improving a natural protocols.
While we are at it, does this
also apply to ordinary wounds? Perhaps
we need to include curcumin in wound dressings.
If not, why not?
It all deserves to be followed
up.
Spice drug fights stroke damage
Turmeric is a widely used spice
10 February 2011 Last updated at 04:50 ET
A drug derived from the curry spice turmeric may be able to help the
body repair some of the damage caused in the immediate aftermath of a stroke.
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
in Los Angeles
Their drug reached brain cells and reduced muscle and movement
problems.
The Stroke Association said it was the "first significant
research" suggesting that the compound could aid stroke patients.
Turmeric has been used for centuries as part of traditional Indian
Ayurvedic medicine, and many laboratory studies suggest one of its components,
curcumin, might have various beneficial properties.
However, curcumin cannot pass the "blood brain barrier" which
protects the brain from potentially toxic molecules.
The US
The laboratory tests on rabbits suggested it might be effective up to
three hours after a stroke in humans - about the same time window available for
current "clot-busting" drugs.
Chain reaction
Dr Paul Lapchak, who led the study, said that the drug appeared to have
an effect on "several critical mechanisms" which might keep brain
cells alive after a stroke.
“Start Quote
This is the first significant research to show that turmeric could be
beneficial to stroke patients by encouraging new cells to grow and preventing
cell death after a stroke”
Dr Sharlin Ahmed,The Stroke Association
Although strokes kill brain cells by depriving them of oxygenated
blood, this triggers a chain reaction which can widen the damaged area - and
increase the level of disability suffered by the patient.
Dr Lapchak said that CNB-001 appeared to repair four "signalling
pathways" which are known to help fuel the runaway destruction of brain
cells.
However, even though human trials are being planned, any new treatment
could still be some time away.
Dr Sharlin Ahmed, from The Stroke Association, said that turmeric was
known to have health benefits.
She said: "There is a great need for new treatments which can
protect brain cells after a stroke and improve recovery."
"This is the first significant research to show that turmeric
could be beneficial to stroke patients by encouraging new cells to grow and
preventing cell death after a stroke.
"The results look promising, however it is still very early days
and human trials need to be undertaken."
Cardio and cerebral vascular disease - which includes strokes - are for the most part preventable through proper diet, regular (including aerobic) physical activity, restful sleep and various nutritional supplementation (including usage of curcumin from turmeric).
ReplyDeleteThe fact that drug development is seen as the solution to strokes demonstrates the still predominant mindset of scientists and physicians that health problems are inevitable... Of course the FDA promotes this thinking by not permitting chemical/drug approval/usage except as treatment for some specific disease/ailment. At the same time most scientists, physicians and the FDA continue to revile - and for the latter, place obstructions on the sale and even personal use of many - plant/animal based supplements with long (generations, sometimes centuries) of anecdotal evidence for benefit.