Compound in curry may stop cirrhosis
Source: Agencies |
March 25, 2010, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A COMPOUND found in the common curry spice turmeric appears to delay the liver damage that causes cirrhosis, scientists said yesterday.
In a study published in Gut, a British Medical Journal title, Austrian scientists found that feeding the compound curcumin to mice reduced the types of inflammation that can cause liver cell damage, blockage and scarring.
Previous research has suggested that curcumin, which gives turmeric its bright yellow color, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties which may be helpful in fighting disease.
Some studies have indicated it can suppress cancer tumors and that people who eat lots of curry may be less prone to the disease, although curcumin loses its anti-cancer attributes quickly when ingested.
The Austrian research team wanted to find out if curcumin could delay the damage caused by progressive some inflammatory liver diseases that cause the liver's plumbing system of bile ducts to become inflamed, scarred, and blocked. This can lead to major tissue damage and irreversible and ultimately fatal liver cirrhosis.
The team led by Michael Trauner of the Gastroenterology and Hepatology division at the Medical University Graz in Austria analyzed tissue and blood samples from mice with chronic liver inflammation before and after adding curcumin to their diet.
They found the curcumin diet significantly reduced bile duct blockage and curbed liver cell damage and scarring by interfering with chemical signalling pathways involved in inflammation.
Although the research was at a very early stage, the scientists said it seemed to show that curcumin targets "several different parts of the inflammatory process" and could offer a "promising treatment in the future."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
