Turmeric Component Studied in Lung Health

by CP Staff

A recent study evaluated curcumin, a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory component of the dietary spice turmeric, on allergic airway inflammation and hyper-responsiveness. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, 34.1 million Americans have been diagnosed with asthma during their lifetime, and the academy estimates that the number of Americans with asthma will increase by over 100 million by 2025.

In this new study, investigators evaluated the effect of curcumin using a mouse model of asthma. The researchers evaluated the effect of curcumin on nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB), which is a protein that plays an important role in the immune response and inflammatory pathway by regulating transcription of DNA. Transcription is a signaling process that either increases or decreases the production of gene products that regulate the intensity of inflammation.

The mice in this study were sensitized to ovalbumin, the main protein in egg whites, by repeated injections of the protein followed by repeated bronchial challenges produced by inhalation of ovalbumin to induce airway inflammation and hyper-responsiveness. The mice were administered curcumin daily, and then evaluated for airway hyper-responsiveness, the number of inflammatory cells, levels of the antibody immunoglobulin E (IgE)–the primary antibody in allergic reactions in the lungs, and NF-kappaB activation in lung tissue.

The results of the study showed that curcumin treatment inhibited NF-kappaB-dependent transcription as well as significantly attenuated airway hyper-responsiveness in the mice. Additionally, curcumin treatment reduced the number of leukocytes and eosinophils, which are the white blood cells involved in the allergic response, in the lung fluids. Additionally, curcumin treatment reduced the levels of IgE in the lungs and significantly improved the infiltration of inflammatory cells and mucus occlusions in lung tissue.

The study authors stated that in mice, “Curcumin attenuates the development of allergic airway inflammation and hyper-responsiveness, possibly through inhibition of NF-kappaB activation in the asthmatic lung tissue. Our results indicate that curcumin may attenuate development of asthma by inhibition of NF-kappaB activation.”

While studies in humans are needed, these findings highlight curcumin’s potential to support healthy lung function and ability to balance the immune response.

Reference:

Oh SW, Cha JY, Jung JE, Chang BC, Kwon HJ, Lee BR, Kim DY. Curcumin attenuates allergic airway inflammation and hyper-responsiveness in mice through NF-kappaB inhibition. J Ethnopharmacol. 2010 Jul 17. Published Online Ahead of Print.