Many studies have shown that turmeric is one of the strongest anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and antioxidant plant on Earth. Researchers often put focus on curcumin bioactive compound found in turmeric, but we know little about the second very important bioactive compound. This compound opening a new era in curing neurological degenerative diseases, which is known as AR-TURMERONE.
Latest study published in the renowned journal Stem Cell Research & Therapy confirms that turmeric bioactive compound causes differentiation and proliferation of the brain stem cells. Bioactive aromatic component called “ar-turmerone” is potential drug candidate for treating disorders like Alzheimer’s disease or stroke.
The study was focused on determining influence of aromatic ar-turmerone on endogenous neutral stem cells (NSC) located in adult brains. NSC has ability to regenerate brain cells that suffer from neurodegenerative diseases by differentiating into neurons. Most important role of ar-turmerone is to block activation of microglia cells, where many neurological disorders are caused by this cells by inflaming parts of brain.
Laboratory Tests
At the Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine in Jülich, Germany, researchers studied the effects of ar-turmerone on NSC differentiation and proliferation both in vivo and in vitro conditions. In lab conditions was grown and cultured rat fetal neutral stem cells in six different concentration of ar-turmerone for period of 72 hours. The results were amazing, ar-turmerone accelerated differentiation process of stem cells and increase proliferation process by up to 80%, without destructive impact on cells.
Researchers made in vivo tests by injecting ar-turmerone into adult rats. They detect proliferation of cells by tracing and PET imaging. Also they found that the hippocampus was expanded, and the subventricular zone was wider. This is very important, because hippocampus and subventricular zone are essential for neurogenesis or growth of neurons.
Lead author of the study, Adele Rueger, said:
“While several substances have been described to promote stem cell proliferation in the brain, fewer drugs additionally promote the differentiation of stem cells into neurons, which constitutes a major goal in regenerative medicine. Our findings on aromatic turmerone take us one step closer to achieving this goal.”
