Turmeric May Fight the Mosquito-Borne Rift Valley Fever

(Newswire.net — November 10, 2016) Orlando, FL — Today, the pharmaceutical industry continues to do research and produce more medications that could address a variety of conditions and viruses. However, ironically, the use of natural alternatives has been increasingly popular for individuals who are battling with certain conditions.

New virus study reveals turmeric may potentially fight the mosquito-borne Rift Valley Fever (RVF) virus. This fever-causing, acute virus does not just affect animals such as goats, sheep, and cattle but also humans.

The new research was spear-headed by Aarthi Narayanan, a research assistant professor with Mason’s National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases. It was published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

According to the study, curcumin has the potential ability to stop the RVF from multiplying in the cells it has infected. Curcumin is a phytochemical found in turmeric that is widely believed to be responsible for many of the spice’s potentially beneficial effects.

“Curcumin is thought to contain antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and antiviral properties,” said Divine Bounty spokesperson, Melissa Scott.

Narayanan reveals that as someone who grew up in India, she was given turmeric frequently. Every time her son suffers from throat infection, she provides him with turmeric. The researcher has spent 18 months working on the study.

The research study will include 10 different versions of curcumin and they will each undergo some tests to determine which may be the most potentially helpful. She also intends to apply the research on a variety of viruses, including HIV. Narayanan has been wanting to explore the potential infection-fighting properties of the spice, especially curcumin.

According to the lead author of the study, curcumin has the potential ability to interfere with the manner that the virus manipulates the human cell in stopping the cell from responding to the infection.

Kylene Kehn-Hall, a co-investigator on the study, reveals their excitement about their work, especially that curcumin may not just inhibit RVFV replication but may also be effective in fighting the virus in a mouse model.

The use of natural alternatives such as turmeric may offer great potential to fight a range of conditions. Unlike many of the pharmaceutical drugs available nowadays, this spice does not cause side effects. There are many medications nowadays that cause adverse effects, such as certain pain medications for arthritis.

Supplements contain higher amounts of curcumin, and thus they have many of its potentially beneficial properties. Most of the more notable curcumin supplements contain a black pepper extract called piperine. This bioavailability-enhancing ingredient may increase the delivery of curcumin’s unique properties inside the body.
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