Experts Highlight Potential Antimicrobial Activity of Turmeric

(Newswire.net — January 26, 2018) Las Vegas, NV — Certain herbs and spices may contain pharmacological properties. Turmeric is an ancient spice that is believed to possess a variety of unique agents through its phytochemical called curcumin.

Experts highlight the potential antimicrobial activity of turmeric. In Indian cuisine and traditional medicine, turmeric has been used for thousands of years. It has a deep yellow-orange color with a potent taste that’s excellent for curry dishes.

In Ayurvedic and traditional medicine, this spice has been used by sufferers of various conditions. According to some experts, many of its possible effects come from its curcumin.

Curcumin is believed to contain anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, antibacterial, antitumor, antiseptic, antiviral and antimicrobial properties. There are many health effects of this spice that are thought to be produced by its antimicrobial activity.

In animal and test tube experiments, it was found that turmeric may potentially kill bacteria and certain viruses.

In July 2013, a study was published in the journal called “Gut”. It was revealed that the spice may have an ability to offer protection to liver cells against hepatitis C, which is a liver disease-causing virus.

With the use of human liver cells, curcumin was incubated by the researchers with hepatitis C to determine its antiviral activity. It was revealed that turmeric had successfully inhibited the hepatitis C virus from accessing the human liver cells.

Further testing demonstrated that curcumin has an ability to impair viral binding and fusion. This pertains to a process where the virus tries to interact with the host cell surface for the purpose of invading it.

The antimicrobial activity of turmeric has also been found to be useful against Vibrio vulnificus infection. This was according to the findings of the study published in December 2011, in the journal “FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology”.

According to the researchers, Vibrio vulnificus comes from the same family of bacteria that causes cholera. Exposure to contaminated seawater or seafood may result in abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting.

Researchers further suggested that curcumin was able to slow the growth of this bacteria and keep it from sticking to host cells. This is, according to the investigators, a major protective mechanism.

There have been researchers who developed curcumin-based vaginal cream, which efficiently eradicated the human papillomavirus otherwise known as HPV cancer cells.

In a test tube study, the investigators used human HPV cancer cells and found that turmeric’s powerful phytochemical called curcumin was able to inhibit the expression of a variety of pro-cancer proteins.

Curcumin also eliminated several types of HPV cancer cells without causing harm to noncancerous tissue. This study was published in the journal called “Gynecological Oncology”.

Turmeric may be an excellent antimicrobial alternative to certain pharmaceutical drugs. There are many medications available in the market today, but many of them may cause side effects.

This spice does not produce these side effects and even has the potential to offer a myriad of health benefits. Turmeric can be added in a variety of dishes and beverages. Curcumin supplementation could also be a potentially effective way to ensure that intake of this phytochemical is increased.

To take better advantage of curcumin’s possible effects, consumers may choose supplements that also contain black pepper. Black pepper is believed to work by increasing curcumin absorption inside the body.

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