Iranian Scientists Convert Curcumin Existing in Turmeric into Edible Nanodrug | WPN World People News

Curcumin (diferuloyl methane) is a polyphenol that is classified as one of the diarylheptanoids. This substance is the active part of a perennial plant known as turmeric. Turmeric is cultured in India, Southeast of Asia, China and the tropical zones in Asia. Many studies carried out in the past 50 years showed a few important effects of curcumin. Generally speaking, the most important biological effects of turmeric and curcumin are its anti-inflammation, anti-tumor and antioxidant specifications.

Many studies suggest that curcumin has anti-oxidant and anti-angiogenesis effects, prevents cell proliferation and aggression and can be used in the treatment of wounds, diabetes, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, cardiovascular diseases, microbial diseases, lung diseases and arthritis.

Clinical studies showed that curcumin does not have any toxic effect and is completely safe even when it is consumed 12 grams per day for three months.

Due to the lipophilic nature of curcumin, the sorption of this substance is very low in normal forms of eating such as powders, capsules and tablets. Like other lipophilic materials, very small amount of curcumin turns into missile in a natural manner and is absorbed after being eaten. However, when it is encapsulated in nano-missiles, all of the curcumin is trapped in the hydrophobic part of curcumin nano-missiles. The spherical nano-missiles are about 10 nm in size and they increase the solubility of curcumin in water more than 100,000 times.

After being eaten, softgel capsules containing curcumin nano-missiles break in the acidic environment of stomach, and the drug is released. The nano-missiles are stable at least for six hours in the acidic environment of stomach, and they reach the small intestine without being opened.

Source: Nanotechnology Now