Researchers at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil explored how boosting the digestibility of curcumin with nanoparticles and plant-based compounds can enhance its potential to repair brain injury after an ischemic stroke and to reduce tumor development. The study’s insights are discussed in a review published in Antioxidants.
Curcumin is the vivid yellow compound derived from the plant Curcuma longa. It has a long history as an herbal supplement, a cosmetic ingredient, a flavoring agent, and a coloring additive. While some research links curcumin to lower risks of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, its poor bioavailability often limits achieving the desired therapeutic outcomes.
The Brazilian researchers conducted a comprehensive analysis of existing work to understand how curcumin absorption could be improved. They reviewed multiple studies to identify strategies that increase the substance’s uptake in the body.
The team found that combining curcumin with piperine, the natural substance responsible for black pepper’s sharp taste, markedly improves its oral bioavailability. They noted that pairing curcumin with other plant bioactive compounds, including quercetin and vitamin B6, may help suppress certain cancers and inflammatory conditions of the colon mucosa.
Another finding suggests that enriching curcumin into nanoparticles may deliver a neuroprotective effect. Notably, nanocurcumin has potential in scenarios such as traumatic brain injury and ischemia, where distributed delivery could support brain tissues more effectively.
Additionally, the review touches on how fasting-related mechanisms can modulate inflammatory processes in the body, offering broader context for how lifestyle factors may interact with curcumin’s activities.