Life Sci. 2006 Aug 23
Inhibitory effect of curcumin on nitric oxide production from lipopolysaccharide-activated primary microglia.Jung KK, Lee HS, Cho JY, Shin WC, Rhee MH, Kim TG, Kang JH, Kim SH, Hong S, Kang SY.
Pharmacology Department, National Institute of Toxicological Research, KFDA, Seoul 122-704, Republic of Korea; Department of Genetic Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746, Republic of Korea.

Curcumin has been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, and anticarcinogenic activities. However, the modulatory effect of curcumin on the functional activation of primary microglial cells, brain mononuclear phagocytes causing the neuronal damage, largely remains unknown. The current study examined whether curcumin influenced NO production in rat primary microglia and investigated its underlying signaling pathways. Curcumin decreased NO production in LPS-stimulated microglial cells in a dose-dependent manner, with an IC(50) value of 3.7 muM. It also suppressed both mRNA and protein levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), indicating that this drug may affect iNOS gene expression process. Indeed, curcumin altered biochemical patterns induced by LPS such as phosphorylation of all mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and DNA binding activities of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and activator protein (AP)-1, assessed by reporter gene assay. By analysis of inhibitory features of specific MAPK inhibitors, a series of signaling cascades including c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38 and NF-kappaB was found to play a critical role in curcumin-mediated NO inhibition in microglial cells. The current results suggest that curcumin is a promising agent for the prevention and treatment of both NO and microglial cell-mediated neurodegenerative disorders.

PMID: 16934299 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

other site with several references regarding curcumin and NO:
http://tinyurl.com/qfa2a

that was volapyk to me, at least most of it - as far as I do understand it, curcumin is still considered a good thing for us. I was just ready to despair at the first line or two, but it ends well.
At Ron Hutton's recommendation I have taken Curcumin for the last two years, and I feel a lot better than I did before I started taking it. I am quite sure, that it is very beneficial. No doubt about it - PD is, probably among other things, caused by inflammation.
And Curcumin is anti inflammatory.
It is also a powerful antioxidant.

birte

I have been taking curcumin for 5 years now, and after 15 years of PD I am on 250mg levodopa per day, less than Iwas on 15 years ago.
It is certainly a multifunctional supplement. As Birte said, it is a powerful antioxidant, it is anti inflamatory, it chelates heavy metals and removes them from the body. It is known to improve the efficiency of the blood/brain barrier,
I originally started taking it when I read that the incidence levels in India were 14 per 100,000 population against 280 per 100,000 in USA and UK.
It was proposed this was due to the high level of curcumin in the Indian diet.
It is a very safe supplement also, having undergone 6 human trials, and up to doses of 8 grams per day.

Ron

another recent report: ( I am not researching curcumin--just stumbling over these reports and remembered the postings about curcumin on BT1--think it interesting that at least one study [first one posted on this thread] reports potential usefulness in neurodegenerative diseases--and this one associates curcumin's iron chelating properties to anti cancer activity--there is speculation that iron metabolism in the substantia nigra contributes to PD)
AICR ScienceNow
Volume 15
Winter 2006
Stronger Than Iron, Curcumin May Prevent Tumors


Suzy V. Torti, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biochemistry at Wake
Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, N.C., has
studied curcumin's protective effect against cancer. In collaboration
with her research colleagues, Dr. Torti recently found a possible
explanation for how curcumin inhibits tumor growth.


Cancer Cells Deprived of Iron


"We made the unexpected observation that curcumin binds and isolates
iron in cells and tissues," says Dr. Torti. The process of binding and
isolating a metal ion such as iron is known as chelation. Her group
made this discovery after studying the effects of several natural
products.


How chelation of iron by curcumin may prevent cancer is unknown. It may
involve the special need of tumor cells for iron. Although iron is
essential for the body to function, cancer cells are avid for iron. It
is required for their growth and DNA synthesis. In conditions of excess
iron storage, the risk of liver cancer is greatly increased.


Dr. Torti notes, however, that chelation is probably only a part of how
curcumin affects tumors. "Studies have shown lots of partial answers to
the question of why curcumin inhibits tumor growth. Its property of
chelating iron is just another piece of the puzzle of how this simple
molecule works."


Pinpointing the Relationship


In a current, two-year study, funded by AICR, Dr. Torti and her
colleagues are attempting to better define the interaction between iron
and curcumin and their effects on tumor growth. Her study will use mice
that have a genetic defect that causes them to develop intestinal
tumors. The mice will all be fed the same amount of curcumin.


In this study, Dr. Torti will see how many intestinal or liver tumors
the mice develop when they are given varying amounts of iron. "We will
assess whether giving more or less iron when you are also giving
curcumin will affect how the curcumin works in preventing tumors," Dr.
Torti says.


The study will also examine the molecular action of curcumin. This
information could lay the groundwork for developing medicines or
treatments that mimic the chemopreventive actions of curcumin. The
other findings from this study could have important and practical
implications for dietary interventions used to prevent cancer. "Our
study with mice will be the first to provide some measurements of the
effect of different levels of iron when curcumin is being used," Dr.
Torti points out.


If dietary iron reduces the activity of curcumin, this could have
immediate implications for human trials, where iron supplementation
might be avoided or reduced when curcumin is administered. She
concludes, "If people are taking curcumin to prevent them from getting
cancer, and they are also taking iron supplements, the curcumin may be
inactivated by the iron, possibly defeating the whole purpose."


Reference


Buss JL et al. The role of iron chelation in cancer therapy. Current
Medicinal Chemistry. 2003;10(12):1021-34.

Circumin may raise acetylcholine. I learned that from this old thread:

http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:...s&ct=clnk&cd=2

I take artane to reduce my acetylcholine, so I'll use circumin if I start to take drugs that increase my L-Dopa. It's the ratio of dopamine to acetylcholine that's important. If too much acetylcholine vs less dopamine, you get symptoms.

AN OLD THREAD ABOUT CIRCUMIN:

http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:...s&ct=clnk&cd=6

~Zucchini

thanks for the links to the old posts, zucchini. I do not remember reading one of the threads at all! so much for my memory. I do remember that curcumin is a proteasome inhibitor (may be in the links you posted; only scanned the posts) though have no idea how efficient a proteasome inhibitor. madelyn

A daily combination of black peper, curcumin, ginger, & green tea, together with a diet void of red meat, plenty of salads, veges, chicken & fish has improved my off time condition big time. The curcumin combo came from the Brain Talk 1 site.

Prior to adding the curcumin combination to my daily routine, Sept 2005 I found movement at night during the off period very difficult. The improvement since has been staggering. Long may that continue. Dx 1996.

I also exercise regularly and take two outstanding "Life Plus" nutritional products in Daily Bio Basics, (powder form) which has the bodies daily requirements of needed vitamins to nourish and cleanse the body, and Proanthanols, which detoxifies the body and protects our cells. Read more on the URL in my previous post.

http://www.lifeplus.com/SelectCountr...harbourfitness

A recent full medical has the body in pristine condition, blood count normal, cholestorol excellent, kidney and liver functions perfecto, despite taking a strong toxic combination of sinemet tolcapone combination. ( no relation to Al Capone)

GO HARD SCIENCE

How much Curcumin per day is found to be benifical? Do you take it through out the day? Could you list your daily meds and suppliments?
My daily meds are Sinemet-25/100-4xd
Curcumin-500-2xd
Co-Q10-200mg-1xd
Vit E-600iu-1xd
Fish oil
Multi-vitimine
Thanks jerry

That's a good idea. I know we did this on Braintalk 1, but that information is gone, I guess. Could we all list our supplements again? Or start a new thread and do it?????

I'm glad I finally found you guys again!!!!!!

I was able to gather valuable information from reading what others were doing in terms of their medications, food, and nutrition combinations. Here is mine adjusted from when I posted on the old Brain Talk. Happy Reading.

5.30am First medication of 1x Tolcapone, 1.5 units of 25/100 sinemet

6.15am Breakfast consisting of 6x tablespoons of organic muesli measured
into a bowl. 1xapple, 1x banana, 1x kiwi fruit mixed in blender with
a quarter cup of sugar free pure fruit juice. Pour over muesli and
eat. I have gone organic. Anybody else?

8.00am 1.5 units of 25/100 sinemet


8.30am 1x cup of green tea. 100mg of curcumin. 1x high potency ginger
tablet, 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper mixed in tea. 2x omega 3
tablets.

11.30am 1x Tolcapone. 1.5 units of 25/100 sinemet

12..30pm 45 to 60 mins of exercise 3 to 4 times a week consisting of
walking, strength training with weights, stretching, and yoga.

3.30pm 1.5 units of 25/100 sinemet.

6.30pm 1x Tolcapone. 1.5 units of 25/100 sinemet

7.00pm Dinner consisting of chicken or fish. (preferrably salmon or Trout)
vege mix or salad. pasta, baked potato, rice.

7.15pm 1x cup of "Life Plus" Daily Bio Basics. A cup consists of 2 scoops
of Bio Basics (scoop provided with product) Bio Basics is unique
in that it nourishes and cleanses the body with its astonishing
array of essential nutrients. 4x 100 Proanthanols which
detoxifies the body and protects our cells. Our bodies take in a
huge amount of toxic substances each day from our cities
pollutants. Combined with the toxic substances associated with our
Parkinson's medication. and that's a recipe for clogged bodies. So
it's important to have a powerful nutrient enriched nourisher that
cleanses and detoxifies. "Life Plus" Read more on the URL from my previous post...

http://www.lifeplus.com/SelectCountr...harbourfitness

1x curcumin tablet, 1.ginger tablet, 1x omega 3 tablet

I try to stick to this measured routine each day. Adjustments are neccessary when the day needs to fit in with meetings, invitations, etc.

GO HARD SCIENCE aka Rationalist