Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
It has been shown that the inhibition obtained using aqueous extract, incorporated into the liposome
itself, was 70% at 300 ng/µg and protected DNA (80%) against peroxidation injury at 100 ng/µg.
Curcumin and the crude extract have also been shown to be cytotoxic to lymphocytes and Dalton's
lymphoma (DL) cells at concentrations of 4 and 0.4 mg/ml, respectively, and also inhibited the cell
growth in Chinese hamster ovary cells at the same concentrations.
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Curcumin possesses a selec-
tive phototoxic effect on bacteria.
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Lee and Lin have shown that curcuma extract had mild antimu-
tagenic activities against benzo[α]pyrene-induced mutation in a salmonella/microsomal system.
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It also inhibited mutagenicity induced by several environmental mutagens, including bidi and ciga-
rette condensates, tobacco, and dimethyl benzo-[α]anthracene, in a dose-dependent manner.
Curcumin has cortisone-like inhibitory activity on healing of wounds. In an experiment on the
healing of superficial and penetrating corneal wounds in albino rabbits,
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aqueous extract (2.8%)
of curcuma definitely delayed healing superficial corneal wounds when compared with the effect
of placebo and preservative eyedrops and also markedly reduced the tensile strength of corneal
wounds. The 1:1 w/v aqueous extract has been shown to antagonize the toxic action of cobra,
Naja-
naja siamensis,
neurotoxin possibly via direct inactivation of the toxin. The plant extract also pos-
sesses proteolytic activity, which was shown not to be a likely mechanism for its antagonism to the
cobra neurotoxin.
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The antitumor properties of curcuma may be due to the presence of β-elemene, which has been
found to be one of the cytotoxic constituents of the plant, showed 100% anti-infertility action in
albino rats at a dose of 100 mg/kg. The petroleum ether extract showed 80% anti-infertility activity
in the same assay and also caused resorption of the implants.
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Clinical Properties —
Tumeric is a spice used as food condiment in many countries. It has
anti-inflammatory activity that is comparable in potency to that of phenylbutazone. A proprietary
preparation known as Temoe-lawak-Singer (RVG 08637) used on various inflammatory conditions
has been shown to reduce both the serum and the liver cholesterol in rats. RVG 08637 consists of a
mixture of extracts of
Curcuma
species and
Rhammi purshianae
and is known to have choleretic
and cholagogic activity in humans.
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An ethanol extract of curcuma and the ointment of curcumin were found to produce remarkable
symptomatic relief in patients with cancerous lesions. Reductions in smell were noted in 90% of
the cases, and in almost all the cases there were reductions in itching.
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It was also observed that
dry lesions occurred in 70% of the cases, and 10% of the patients had a reduction of lesion size and
pain. The observed effects continued in many of the patients for several months. The rhizomes of
curcuma have been investigated for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, insect antifeedant, antiviral,
cytotoxic, and trypanocidal activities and in the treatment of AD, cancer, arthritis, and other clini-
cal disorders.
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Curcuminoids, labdane, halimane, and clerodane-type diterpenoids, considered the
major biological constituents of the
Curcuma
genus, have been incorporated into many nutraceuti-
cals or dietary supplements
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and as potential antitumor drug.
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Toxicity and Adverse Reactions —
Tumeric is used in various parts of the world as a food
item, and no incidence of toxicity has been recorded. In the controlled clinical studies by Kuttan
et al., only one patient reported adverse effects.
487
A feeding experiment with raw turmeric and the
alcoholic extract at very high doses of up to 2-5 g/kg and 300 mg/kg, respectively, resulted in no
apparent toxicity to rabbits, guinea pigs, and monkeys.
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CYCLOPIA SPECIES — HONEYBUSH TEA
Botanical Name —
Cyclopia intermedia
E. Mey
, Cyclopia subternata
Vog
., Cyclopia genistoi-
des
( L .) Vent
., Cyclopia sessiliflora
Eckl. and Zeyh
, Cyclopia maculata
, and related species
Family —
Leguminosae
