Joesoef
26-12-03, 19:34
Turmeric Inhibits Agents Responsible for Mad Cow Disease
7th Dec 2003
INTRODUCTION
A new study shows that the curcumin, the agent that gives turmeric its yellow color, can inhibit the accumulation of prions in vitro. Prions are the agents responsible for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, the scientific term for mad cow disease.
Researchers from the Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases at the National Institutes of Health Rocky Mountain Laboratories set out to determine the effect of curcumin on cells infected with scrapie, the sheep version of mad cow disease. Scrapie, mad cow disease and Creutzfeld-Jakob disease in humans are all species-specific versions of the same disease, known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE).
In the current study, published in the May 2003 issue of the Journal of Virology, Curcumin potently inhibited the accumulation of a type of prion called protease-resistant prion protein. Prions must convert from their original state to this protease-resistant state in order to cause mad cow disease or new variant Creutzfeld-Jakob disease, as it's called in humans. In attempting to develop agents to treat new variant Creutzfeld-Jakob disease, researchers are searching for agents that prevent this accumulation of protease-resistant prions.
The study authors pointed out that in vivo studies in hamsters showed that dietary administration of curcumin had no significant effect on the onset of scrapie. However, other studies have shown that curcumin can penetrate the brain, which gives curcumin advantages over prion inhibitors previously investigated as potential therapeutic anti-TSE compounds.
Reference:
Caughey B, Raymond LD, Raymond GJ, Maxson L, Silveira J, Baron GS.
Inhibition of protease-resistant prion protein accumulation in vitro by curcumin. J Virol. 2003 May;77(9):5499-502
The information in this article is not intended to provide personal medical advice, which should be obtained from a medical professional, and has not been approved by the U.S. FDA.
Copyright 2003 by Vitamin Research Products, Inc. The Vitamin Research News is intended solely for individual, non-commercial use. All other uses are prohibited without written permission from VRP. The Vitamin Research News is protected by U.S. and international copyright laws and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast in any form, or by any means whether now known or hereinafter devised, without prior written permission from VRP.
Requests for permission to reproduce all or part of the material or information contained in the Vitamin Research News should be directed by U.S. Post to Robert Watson at Vitamin Research Products 3579 Highway 50 East, Carson City, NV 89701, or by fax to Robert Watson at 775.884.1336 or via e-mail to Robert Watson, at VRP
7th Dec 2003
INTRODUCTION
A new study shows that the curcumin, the agent that gives turmeric its yellow color, can inhibit the accumulation of prions in vitro. Prions are the agents responsible for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, the scientific term for mad cow disease.
Researchers from the Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases at the National Institutes of Health Rocky Mountain Laboratories set out to determine the effect of curcumin on cells infected with scrapie, the sheep version of mad cow disease. Scrapie, mad cow disease and Creutzfeld-Jakob disease in humans are all species-specific versions of the same disease, known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE).
In the current study, published in the May 2003 issue of the Journal of Virology, Curcumin potently inhibited the accumulation of a type of prion called protease-resistant prion protein. Prions must convert from their original state to this protease-resistant state in order to cause mad cow disease or new variant Creutzfeld-Jakob disease, as it's called in humans. In attempting to develop agents to treat new variant Creutzfeld-Jakob disease, researchers are searching for agents that prevent this accumulation of protease-resistant prions.
The study authors pointed out that in vivo studies in hamsters showed that dietary administration of curcumin had no significant effect on the onset of scrapie. However, other studies have shown that curcumin can penetrate the brain, which gives curcumin advantages over prion inhibitors previously investigated as potential therapeutic anti-TSE compounds.
Reference:
Caughey B, Raymond LD, Raymond GJ, Maxson L, Silveira J, Baron GS.
Inhibition of protease-resistant prion protein accumulation in vitro by curcumin. J Virol. 2003 May;77(9):5499-502
The information in this article is not intended to provide personal medical advice, which should be obtained from a medical professional, and has not been approved by the U.S. FDA.
Copyright 2003 by Vitamin Research Products, Inc. The Vitamin Research News is intended solely for individual, non-commercial use. All other uses are prohibited without written permission from VRP. The Vitamin Research News is protected by U.S. and international copyright laws and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast in any form, or by any means whether now known or hereinafter devised, without prior written permission from VRP.
Requests for permission to reproduce all or part of the material or information contained in the Vitamin Research News should be directed by U.S. Post to Robert Watson at Vitamin Research Products 3579 Highway 50 East, Carson City, NV 89701, or by fax to Robert Watson at 775.884.1336 or via e-mail to Robert Watson, at VRP