Turmeric is one of the culinary spice recognized to have numerous health benefits. A recent study showed turmeric could assist regenerate brain cells after stroke.
Turmeric is known to have a molecular compound curcumin, a yellow pigment derived from Curcuma longa natural ingredient. This extremely popular spice in use in some varieties of food in South Asia and Middle East as well.
Researchers from the United States found that one component of chemical compound from the kitchen spice turmeric able to regenerate brain cells damaged after suffered a stroke. Even though this new limited research on rabbit test animals.
In the study compound in turmeric not attack blood clotting. But these compounds can reduce the effects of deficit (decrease) in motor abilities after a person has suffered a stroke as a dilemma in the muscles and motion control.
“With these promising results, the experiment in humans that will be given in the form of drug will soon start. It is expected that the drug is able to restore the path of food from the nerve to get back to work, “said Paul Lapchak from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, as quoted by AFP, on Monday (2/14/2011).
Lapchak said CNB-001 hybrid compounds contained in turmeric able to cross the blood brain barrier, permitting blood to be distributed rapidly to the brain and involved in a mechanism that is essential for the survival of neurons, or nerve.
The results of this study itself was presented by Lapchak meeting of the American Heart Association International Stroke Conference.
Currently approved drugs in the treatment of ischemic stroke (which caused by a blockage of blood flow to the brain) recognized as plasminogen activator tissue (tissue plasminogen activator / TPA). The drug is typically injected via an IV to dissolve the clot and restore blood flow.
