A chief constituent of the Indian spice turmeric was found to reduce the inflammation and fibrosis (Development of excess fibrous tissue in an organ) in an animal study. Research work in rodents with chemically induced liver injury found that curcumin, a chemical in turmeric which is responsible for giving curry a yellow colour, has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activities. The compound has been used since years in Ayurvedic medical specialty to treat a various gastrointestinal problems. However, latest research indicates that the compound may have other therapeutic applications, with potential effects on liver disorders. The new study proposed that that mice fed with curcumin had very less liver damage than other group which was on a normal diet.
The investigators in this study have looked into how curcumin saved mice that had been grew for inflammation in their bile ducts and liver injury. The study was aimed for screening out of mice model for a group of disease known as cholangiopathy. It is caused by inflammatory process and fibrosis of bile duct in liver which may cause blockage of bile flow to gut and may result in to jaundice, liver failure, liver cancer or other injuries to liver. The mice used in the study were bred to have a type of chronic cholangiopathy. The investigators did screening of various liver function tests for finding any sign of liver injury before and after the mice were fed with curcumin.
The results of this study indicated that liver injury, jaundice and scarring (which may lead to fibrosis) are reduced by the curcumin intake. The results also showed that curcumin may work on multiple targets in liver and thereby regulating numerous cellular events in mice. The underlying cellular process that is affected be curcumin rich diet might turn out to be promising targets for developing new drugs. As the efficacy of available medical alternatives to slow the progression of liver diseases is very narrow, there is a requirement for new and effectual medical intervention strategy. The finding of this study has opened the doors for newer treatment option for liver damage.
On the other hand, the hypothesis is in its early stage and it will be too early to say that the new treatment option might develop from this spice. There is no proposal from the study that consumption of turmeric will comprise the similar result or be a helpful treatment for human being. Nevertheless, researchers are taking this finding in positive ways and have started working in this direction.
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