Doctor's Best Best Curcumin with Bioperine 120 caps
Quantity in Basket:none Code: B00107
Price:$17.00
New Page 1
Best Curcumin w/Bioperine contains a
standardized extract of Curcuma longa root, commonly known as “Turmeric.”
Turmeric is a yellow spice used in curried dishes. In the Far East, turmeric
is valued for more than just its culinary applications. The herb has been
employed in the Ayurvedic healing tradition for centuries , and is a common
household remedy in India. The active ingredients in Curcuma longa are a
group of plant substances called curcuminoids. Known collectively as “curcumin,”
curcuminoids have demonstrated potent antioxidant properties in scientific
studies.* Curcuminoids benefit joints and other tissues by helping to
neutralize free-radicals.* Curcuminoids are responsible for turmeric’s
distinctive yellow color.
Curcuma C3 Complex supplies 95% total curcuminoids, including curcumin,
bisdemethoxy curcumin and demethoxy curcumin. Bioperine is an extract of
Black Pepper fruit that contains 95-98% piperine. Bioperine is added as a
natural bioenhancer to promote absorption of the product.*
Turmeric- History and Traditional Usage
Native to Southeast Asia, Curcuma longa is a tall tropical shrub with
large oblong leaves and pale yellow flowers. The genus “Curcuma” belongs to
the Zingiberaceae family, which includes ginger.1 The
plant possesses a large root structure with fleshy, bulbous underground
parts called “rhizomes.” These rhizomes, known as turmeric root, are
harvested at maturity, dried and cured for commercial use. Chemical analysis
shows that dried turmeric contains essential and volatile oils, with a
curcuminoid content of 2.5 to 5.0 %.2
In addition to its popularity as a spice, turmeric is used as a dye for
cloth and coloring agent in foods and cosmetics, thanks to its rich yellow
color. Turmeric also serves as a preservative, probably owing to the
antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of curcumin. Extracts of Curcuma
longa have demonstrated in vitro antibacterial and anti-fungal effects.3
Turmeric is named in ancient Ayurvedic and Chinese herbal texts as a
traditional folk remedy. Historically, turmeric was used externally for
wounds, and sprains, and internally for digestive complaints, rheumatism,
liver disorders, coughs and colds.4
Benefits
Protects cells and tissues by fighting free radicals.*
Supports joint function*
The numerous beneficial effects attributed to turmeric stem in large
measure from the antioxidant properties of curcumin. Antioxidants neutralize
free radicals, which are highly unstable molecules that can damage cellular
structures through abnormal oxidative reactions. Curcumin is a potent
“scavenger” of the superoxide radical, a free radical that initiates
potentially harmful oxidative processes such as lipid peroxidation.5
Through this activity, curcumin has been shown to protect skin cells
from the injurious effect of nitroblue tetrazolium, a toxin that generates
superoxide radicals. Curcumin also increases survival of cells exposed in
vitro to the enzyme hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase, which stimulates
superoxide and hydrogen peroxide production. Curcumin itself is not toxic to
cells, even at high concentrations. Pure curcumin was shown to be less
protective than a mixture of curcuminoids, indicating a possible synergism
among curcuminoids.6 Because free radicals are
involved in aging and exert harmful effects on skin, these results suggest
curcumin may help slow skin aging.
Curcumin demonstrates several other in vitro effects linked to free
radical scavenging. Curcumin scavenges nitric oxide, a compound associated
with the body’s inflammatory response.7 Pure curcumin
and turmeric extracts protect red blood cells from lipid peroxidation
induced by hydrogen peroxide.8 Curcumin has been shown
to protect DNA from oxidative damage, inhibit binding of toxic metabolites
to DNA, and reduce DNA mutations in the Ames’ test.9
Although additional studies suggest an anticarcinogenic effect of curcumin,
through protection of DNA,10 one in vitro study found
that curcumin induced DNA damage in human gastric mucosal cells.11
It is speculated that curcumin may act as a pro-oxidant in the presence of
transition metal ions such as copper and iron. (This is true for other
antioxidants, including vitamin C.) Curcumin also demonstrates in vitro
inhibition of COX-I and COX-II enzymes, which are involved in the
inflammatory reaction.12 Together these results
strongly suggest that curcumin is a potent bioprotectant with a potentially
wide range of therapeutic applications.
Animal studies- In vivo protective effects
Through its free radical scavenging properties, curcumin has shown
bioprotective effects in animals. In one study, rats were treated with
isoproterenol, a chemical that causes cardiac hypertrophy (enlargement of
the heart) due to abnormal collagen metabolism. Co-treatment with curcumin
reversed the degradation of collagen and cardiac hypertrophy induced by
isoproterenol.13 Curcumin protects mice from
detrimental effects of radiation, by stabilizing the glyoxalase system, a
biological system that regulates cell division.14
Curcumin protects livers of rats from the damaging effects of carbon
tetrachloride (CCl4), a potent hepatoxin that injures the liver via its free
radical metabolite, CCl3.15,16 Curcumin protected rats
from alcohol-induced brain damage, in a study in which oral administration
of curcumin reversed lipid peroxidation, reduced levels of free-radical
metabolites and increased levels of glutathione, a major physiologic
antioxidant.17 Curcuma longa extracts have shown
anti-inflammatory effects in rats.18
Human Trials
Curcumin exhibits free-radical scavenging ability when administered to
humans. In an open trial (uncontrolled), 18 healthy
individuals ranging in age from 27 to 67 years consumed a Curcuma longa
extract, at a dose supplying 20 mg curcuminoids, for 45 days. Before and
after blood tests showed a statistically significant decrease in lipid
peroxides.19 Preliminary trials have tested the
anti-inflammatory action of curcumin, with results that verify the
traditional use of turmeric as an anti-rheumatic herb. In a short-term
double-blind, cross-over, comparative study, 18 people received curcumin
(1200 mg daily) or phenylbutazone for two week periods. Both curcumin and
phenylbutazone produced measurable improvements in joint flexibility and
walking time. The subjects reported results only with phenylbutazone, which
may be explained by the short duration of the trial.20
In a small placebo-controlled trial comparing curcumin to phenylbutazone, 45
patients with post-operative inflammation received curcumin, phenylbutazone
or placebo. The anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin and phenylbutazone
were comparable and superior to placebo.21 Curcumin
has not been found to produce an analgesic (pain relieving) effect.
Traditional Ayurvedic herbal formulas often include black pepper and long
pepper as synergistic herbs. The active ingredient in both black pepper and
long pepper is the alkaloid, piperine. Experiments carried out to evaluate
the scientific basis for the use of peppers have shown that piperine
significantly enhances bioavailability when consumed with other substances.22
Several double-blind clinical studies have confirmed that Bioperine®
increases absorption of nutrients.23
Curcumin is poorly absorbed in the intestinal tract, limiting its
therapeutic effectiveness. Oral doses are largely excreted in feces, and
only trace amounts appear in the blood. Concomitant administration of 20 mg
of piperine with 2 grams of curcumin increases the bioavailability of
curcumin by 2000%.24
Safety
Suggested Adult Use: Take 1 to 3 capsules daily.
Scientific References
1. Majeed, M., Badmaev, V., Shivakumar, U., Rajendran, R. Curcuminoids.
1995. Piscataway, NJ: NutriScience Publishers.
2. Srimal, R.C. Turmeric: a brief review of its medicinal properties.
Fitoterapia 1997;68(6):483-93.
3. Ammon, H.P.T., Wahl, M.A. Pharmacology of Curcuma longa. Planta Medica
1991;57:1-7.
4. Snow, J.M. Herbal Monograph: Curcuma longa L. (Zingiberaceae). The
Protocol Journal of Botanical Medicine, Autumn 1995:43-46.
8. Lalitha, S., Selvam, R. Prevention of H2Os-induced red blood cell lipid
peroxidation by aqueous extracted turmeric. Asia Pacific J Clin Nutr
1999;8(2):113-14.
9. Deshpande, S.S., Maru, G.B. Effects of curcumin on the formation of
benzo[a]pyrene derived DNA adducts in vitro. Cancer Letters 1995;96:71-80.
10. Subramanian, M., et al. Diminution of singlet oxygen-induced DNA damage
by curcumin and related antioxidants. Mutation Research 1994;311:249-55.
11. Blasiak, J., Trzeciak, A., Kowalik, J. Curcumin damages DNA in human
gastric mucosa cells and lymphocytes. Journal of Environmental Pathology,
Toxicology and Oncology 1999;18(4):271-76.
12. Ramsewak, R.S., DeWitt, D.L., Nair, M.G. Cytotoxicity, antioxidant, and
anti-inflammatory activities of Curcumins I-III from Curcuma longa.
Phytomedicine 2000;7(4):303-308.
13. Nirmala, C. Anand, S., Puvanakrishnan, R. Curcumin treatment modulates
collagen metabolism in isoproterenol induced myocardial necrosis in rats.
Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry 1999;197:31-37.
14. Choudhary, D., Chandra, D. Kale, R.K. Modulation of radioresponse of
glyoxalase system by curcumin. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 1999;64:1-7.
15. Park, E-J. et al. Protective effect of curcumin in rat liver injury
induced by carbon tetrachloride. J Pharm. Pharmacol. 2000;52:437-40.
16. Deshpande, U.R. et al. Protective effect of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.)
extract on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage in rats. Indian Journal
of Experimental Biology 1998;36:573-77.
17. Rajakrishnan, V. et al. Neuroprotective role of curcumin from Curcuma
longa on ethanol-induced brain damage. Phytotherapy Research 1999;13:571-74.
18. Arora, R.B. Basu, N., Kapoor, V., Jain, A.P. Anti-inflammatory studies
on Curcuma longa (Turmeric). Indian J Med Res 1971;59(8):1289-95.
19. Ramirez-Bosca, A. et al. Antioxidant curcuma extracts decrease the blood
peroxide levels of human subjects. Age 1995;18:167-69.
20. Deodhar, S.D., Sethi, R. Srimal. R.C. Preliminary study on antirheumatic
activity of curcumin (diferoyl methane). Indian J Med Res 1980;71:632-34.
21. Satoskar, R.R., Shah, S J. Shenoy, S.G. Evaluation of anti-inflammatory
property of curcumin (diferoyl methane) in patients with postoperative
inflammation. International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, Therapy and
Toxicolgy 1986;24(12):651-54.
22. Atal, C., Zutshi, U., Rao, P. Scientific evidence on the role of
Ayurvedic herbals on bioavailability of drugs. Journal of Ethnopharmacology
1981;4:229-232.
24. Shoba, G., et al. Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of
curcumin in animals and human volunteers. Planta Medica 1998;64(4):353-6.
*Above statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
