PMID: 

J Agric Food Chem. 2020 May 7. Epub 2020 May 7. PMID: 32348137

Abstract Title: 

Abietane Diterpenoids with Antioxidative Damage Activity from.

Abstract: 

Nine new and nineteen known compounds were isolated and identified fromunder the guidance of bioassay and LCMS. They all belonged to abietane diterpenoids which enriched the types of compounds in, especially the discovery of a series of 20-norabietane diterpenoids (,-, and-). The antioxidative damage activity of the compounds was tested on HOdamaged SH-SY5Y cells. Compounds,, andpresented moderate ability for promoting the growth of damaged cells. Compounds,,-,, anddisplayed a high antioxidative damage effect whose cell viability rates were more than 80%. The antioxidative damage effect of,,, andwere higher than that of EGCG (positive control) in which,, andwere the acetylated derivatives of carnosic acid (), 7α-methoxy-isocarnosol (), and carnosol (), respectively. It suggested that 10-carboxyl/formyl of abietane diterpenoids was essential for maintaining the antioxidative damage activity and the adjacent hydroxyl groups on the benzene ring was less important for holding the bioactivity. These acetylated derivatives with high bioactivity and stability could be regarded as new sources of antioxidants or antioxidative damage agents being used in the food and medical industry.

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PMID: 

J Transl Med. 2020 May 12 ;18(1):195. Epub 2020 May 12. PMID: 32398139

Abstract Title: 

Beneficial impact of epigallocatechingallate on LDL-C through PCSK9/LDLR pathway by blocking HNF1α and activating FoxO3a.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Green tea drinking has been proven to lower lipid and exert cardiovascular protection, while the potential mechanism has not been fully determined. This study was to investigate whether the beneficial impact of epigallocatechingallate (EGCG), a type of catechin in green tea on lipids is associated with proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) pathways.METHODS: We studied the effects and underlying molecular mechanism of EGCG or green tea on regulating cholesterol from human, animal and in vitro.RESULTS: In the age- and gender-matched case control observation, we found that individuals with frequent tea consumption (n = 224) had the lower plasma PCSK9 and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels compared with ones without tea consumption (n = 224, p 

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PMID: 

Front Cell Neurosci. 2018 ;12:516. Epub 2019 Jan 7. PMID: 30666189

Abstract Title: 

Neuroprotective Effects of Curcumin on IL-1β-Induced Neuronal Apoptosis and Depression-Like Behaviors Caused by Chronic Stress in Rats.

Abstract: 

Depression is suggested to be a neuropsychiatric disease resulting from neuroinflammation within specific brain regions. Curcumin, a potential neuroprotective agent extracted from curcuma loga, exerts antidepressant-like effects in various animal models of depression. However, the underlying mechanisms, in particular whether curcumin may exert neuroprotection through suppression of inflammatory pathway activity in depression remains largely unknown. In the present study, we examined the molecular events of curcumin as related to its capacity for neuroprotection against inflammation-induced neuronal apoptosis and depression-like behaviors in a rat model of depression. Our results show that chronic administration of curcumin (40 mg/kg, i.p., 5 weeks) prior to stress exposure significantly alleviated depression-like behaviors, expression of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and inhibited neuronal apoptosis within neurons of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC). Within the vmPFC of stressed rats, an intracerebral infusion of an RNAi form of IL-1β in adenovirus associated virus (AAV-IL-1β RNAi) significantly ameliorated depression-like behaviors, neuronal apoptosis and reduced phosphorylated-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-p38 MAPK) expression levels. More important, within the vmPFC of wild type rats, overexpression of IL-1β via intracerebral infusion of AAV-IL-1β induced p38 MAPK phosphorylation and neuronal apoptosis, which could besignificantly prevented by chronic treatment of curcumin. Collectively, these findings reveal that curcumin protects against IL-1β-induced neuronal apoptosis, which may be related to the display of depression-like behaviors in stressed rats. Moreover, they provide new insights into the mechanismsand therapeutic potential for curcumin in the treatment of inflammation-related neuronal deterioration in this disorder.

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PMID: 

Clin Neuropharmacol. 2019 Jul/Aug;42(4):117-122. PMID: 31045590

Abstract Title: 

Curcumin as Add-On to Antipsychotic Treatment in Patients With Chronic Schizophrenia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Introduction of old and new generations of antipsychotics leads to significant improvements in the positive symptoms of schizophrenia. However, negative symptoms remain refractory to conventional trials of antipsychotic therapy. Recently, there were several open clinical human trials with curcumin. Curcumin is a natural polyphenol, which has a variety of pharmacological activities, including antioxidative and neuroprotective effects. The studies showed that curcumin improved the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. The purpose of our study was to examine the efficacy of curcumin as an add-on agent to regular antipsychotic medications in patients with chronic schizophrenia.METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with chronic schizophrenia were enrolled in a 24-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. The subjects were treated with either 3000 mg/d curcumin or placebo combined with antipsychotics from January 2015 to February 2017. The outcome measures were the Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale (PANSS) and the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia.RESULTS: Analysis of variance showed significant positive changes in both groups from baseline to the end of the study in all scales of measurement. There was a significant response to curcumin within 6 months in total PANSS (P = 0.02) and in the negative symptoms subscale (P = 0.04). There were no differences in the positive and general PANSS subscales, and the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia scores between the treatment and placebo groups. No patient complained of any adverse effect.CONCLUSIONS: The promising results of curcumin as an add-on to antipsychotics in the treatment of negative symptoms may open a new and safe therapeutic option for the management of schizophrenia. However, these results should be replicated in further studies.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02298985.

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PMID: 

Biofactors. 2019 Sep ;45(5):666-689. Epub 2019 Jun 11. PMID: 31185140

Abstract Title: 

Benefits of curcumin in brain disorders.

Abstract: 

Curcumin is widely consumed in Asia either as turmeric directly or as one of the culinary ingredients in food recipes. The benefits of curcumin in different organ systems have been reported extensively in several neurological diseases and cancer. Curcumin has got its global recognition because of its strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and antimicrobial activities. Additionally, it is used in diabetes and arthritis as well as in hepatic, renal, and cardiovascular diseases. Recently, there is growing attention on usage of curcumin to prevent or delay the onset of neurodegenerative diseases. This review summarizes available data from several recent studies on curcumin in various neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Huntington's disease, Prions disease, stroke, Down's syndrome, autism, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, anxiety, depression, and aging. Recent advancements toward increasing the therapeutic efficacy of curcuma/curcumin formulation and the novel delivery strategies employed to overcome its minimal bioavailability and toxicity studies have also been discussed. This review also summarizes the ongoing clinical trials on curcumin for different neurodegenerative diseases and patent details of curcuma/curcumin in India.

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PMID: 

Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2019 Aug 19:1-11. Epub 2019 Aug 19. PMID: 31423805

Abstract Title: 

Curcumin for depression: a meta-analysis.

Abstract: 

Curcumin is the principal curcuminoid found in turmeric (), a spice frequently used in Asian countries. Given its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, it has been hypothesized that curcumin might be effective in treating symptoms of a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression. We conducted a systematic review following the PRISMA guidelines. In August 2019, we screened 930 articles, of which 9 were eligible for the meta-analysis. In 7 articles, participants were affected by major depressive disorder (MDD), while in other two they suffered from depression secondary to a medical condition. We found an overall significant effect of curcumin on depressive (10 studies, 531 participants, Hedge's = -0.75, 95% CI -1.11 to -0.39, 

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n/a

PMID: 

Pak J Pharm Sci. 2019 Jul ;32(4(Supplementary)):1893-1900. PMID: 31680089

Abstract Title: 

Curcumin lessens unpredictable chronic mild stress-induced depression and memory deficits by modulating oxidative stress and cholinergic activity.

Abstract: 

Unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) model is the most established method to study neurobiological mechanisms of depression. This work was intended to explore the efficacy of curcumin to revert the UCMS-induced oxidative burden and associated depression as well as potential of curcumin as an acetyl cholinesterase (AchE) inhibitor. Animals were initially grouped into control and curcumin (200mg/kg, p.o) and further subdivided into unstressed and stressed groups. Depression and anxiety were evaluated by forced swim test (FST) and light/dark transition (LDT) while memory function was assessed by passive avoidance test (PAT). Effect of curcumin on oxidative stress following UCMS was determined by measuring peroxidation of lipid (LPO) and antioxidant enzyme activities. AchE activity was also determined. Findings showed that curcumin supplementation significantly attenuated the UCMS-induced depression and anxiety like symptoms, decreased the load of UCMS propagated oxidative stress by improving antioxidant enzymes activities. Curcumin also improved the memory function and exhibited inhibitory effect on AchE activity. In conclusion it can be suggested that supplementation of curcumin in daily life can help in combating the stress-induced depression and ever increasing load of oxidative stress. Study also highlights the anti-acetylcholinesterase potential of curcumin which may be responsible for improved memory function following UCMS.

PMID: 

Neuroscience. 2019 12 15 ;423:122-130. Epub 2019 Nov 4. PMID: 31698022

Abstract Title: 

Curcumin-Loaded Nanocapsules Reverses the Depressant-Like Behavior and Oxidative Stress Induced byβ-Amyloid in Mice.

Abstract: 

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder classically characterized by cognitive functions impairment. However, its symptomatology is complex and the depression is one of the most frequent behavioral changes in AD. AD pathology includes neuroinflammation and oxidative stress resulting in the Aβ protein accumulation. Curcumin is a natural phenolic compound that shows antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Nevertheless, therapeutic use of curcumin is limited due to its low bioavailability and biodistribution. In this context, the use of curcumin-loaded nanocapsules (NLC C) emergesto overcome its limitations. Thus, the present study investigated the effects of NLC C on the depressant-like behavior and oxidative stress induced by an animal model of AD. For this, Swiss male mice were divided into five groups. The Aβ, Aβ + NLC C and Aβ + Curcumin groups received Aβaggregate (3 nmol/3 μL, i.c.v.). Control and NLC C groups received only vehicle. The NLC C were administered via gavage at a dose of 10 mg/kg in alternate days for 12 days. Our results demonstrated that Aβ infusion induced a depressantant-like behavior observed in the tail suspension and forced swimming tests, which was reversed by NLC C treatment. No change was observed in mice locomotion. Furthermore, NLC C reduced the Aβ-generated oxidative stress in the prefrontal cortex, evidenced by the increase in the reactive species levels, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. Importantly, NLCC were more effective than the free curcumin. Thus, we demonstrated the antidepressant-like and antioxidant effects of NLC C in a mouse model of AD, suggesting its therapeutic potential for this disorder.

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PMID: 

Phytother Res. 2020 Apr ;34(4):896-903. Epub 2019 Dec 1. PMID: 31788880

Abstract Title: 

Beneficial effects of nano-curcumin supplement on depression and anxiety in diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Abstract: 

Depression in patients with diabetes is associated with poor glycemic control and linked to an increased risk for diabetes complications such as neuropathy. Curcumin has shown potential antidepressant-like activities in some studies. The present study is the first randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of nano-curcumin supplementation on depression, anxiety, and stress in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy. Eighty patients with diabetes were enrolled in this parallel, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. The participants were allocated randomly to the intervention (n = 40) and control (n = 40) groups. They received 80 mg of nano-curcumin or placebo capsules daily for 8 weeks. At baseline and end of study, anthropometric measurements, dietary intake, physical activity, glycemic indices, and severity of neuropathy were assessed. The depression, anxiety, and stress level were measured by Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS-21-items) questionnaire before and after the intervention. After intervention, there was a significant reduction in the mean score of depression in the nano-curcumin group (from 16.7 [3.1] to 15.3 [2.6]) compared with placebo group (17.5 [3.2] to 17.3 [3.1]; p = .02). In addition, a significant fall was found in the mean score of anxiety in the nano-curcumin group (from 22.4 [4.03] to 20.6 [3.4]) compared with the placebo group (21.9 [3.5] to 21.2 [3.5]; p = .009). Changes in stress score were not statistically significant between the two groups. These findings suggested that nano-curcumin supplementation for 8 weeks was effective in reducing depression and anxiety scores in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy.

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PMID: 

Altern Ther Health Med. 2020 Feb 21. Epub 2020 Feb 21. PMID: 32088675

Abstract Title: 

Effects of Turmeric on Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Mental Health, and Serum Homocysteine in Overweight, Obese Females.

Abstract: 

Context: The prevalence of overweight and obesity and associated comorbidities has progressively risen. Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, and turmeric aqueous extract, a concentrated form, have been reported to have beneficial effects in treatment of cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors. However, turmeric has not been studied in its natural form.Objective: The present study planned to evaluate the beneficial effects of turmeric in its natural form on obesity-related, cardiovascular-disease risk factors in overweight or obese females.Design: The study used a pre-post, single-arm design.Setting: The study took place in the Department of Physiology at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (Dammam, Saudi Arabia).Participants: The participants were 36 young female students at the university, with a body mass index≥ 23 kg/m2.Intervention: Participants received a daily dose of 2 g/d of turmeric in capsules for 90 d.Outcome Measures: Anthropometric measures, blood pressure, serum homocysteine, and mental health status- stress, anxiety, depression scores-were recorded at baseline and postintervention. Dietary intake and physical activity (confounding variables) were also measured.Results: The following anthropometric measures were reduced significantly between baseline and postintervention: (1) body weight-73.47 vs 72.45 kg (P = .04), (2) body mass index-28.75 vs 28.27 kg/m2 (P = .02), (3) waist circumference-81.85 vs 77.96 cm (P = .01), (4) hip circumference-102.72 vs 98.10 cm (P = .001), (5) body fat %-34.34 vs 32.58 (P = .00), (6) systolic blood pressure-119.12 vs 115.92 mm Hg (P = .04), and (7) anxiety scores-7.88 vs 4.73 (P = .03), as compared by paired t test. Homocysteine levels and stress and depression scores showed no significant changes. Dietary intake and physical activity did not vary significantly throughout the study period.Conclusion: Turmeric has the ability to reduce weight, decrease body fat percentage, lower systolic blood pressure, and relieve anxiety for young, obese and overweight females, when given at 2 g/d for 90 d.

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