CIDPUSA.org Autoimmune diseases

TURMERIC (Curcumin)

Researchers have found that curcurmin, the bright yellow pigment contained in the turmeric root, may help combat a common type of liver disease called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis is the most extreme form of Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a condition that causes inflammation and fat accumulation in the liver cells, not because of excessive alcohol consumption.




Though the exact reason behind the disease is not known, it is generally seen in people suffering from type 2 diabetes, obesity, and insulin resistance.

Scientists suggest that higher levelsScientists suggest that higher levels of leptin, glucose and insulin in blood could be responsible for causing obesity and type 2 diabetes, which might further contribute to NASH-linked liver fibrosis.
Link Turmeric anti-inflammatory
Study details and findingsng Chen, director of research at pathology department in Saint Louis University studied the effect of curcurmin on role of high level of leptin in causing liver fibrosis in vitro.

Lead researcher, Anping Chen of Saint Louis University said, "My laboratory studies the molecular mechanism of liver fibrosis and is searching for natural ways to prevent and treat this liver damage."

Researchers noted that high level of leptin activates hepatic stellate cells in liver.
"Leptin plays a critical role in the development of liver fibrosis," Chen said.

The study authors also found that curcurmin neutralized the effects of leptin on activating hepatic stellate cells, which reduced the development of liver damage. Curry powder contains curcumin.

When the liver is damaged, stellate cells get activated. The activated stellate cell is characterized by proliferation, contractility, and chemotactic movement. These cells secrete collagen scar tissue, which further leads to liver cirrhosis, they explained.

"While research in an animal model and human clinical trials are needed, our study suggests that curcumin may be an effective therapy to treat and prevent liver fibrosis, which is associated with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)," said Chen.Researchers have found that curcurmin, the bright yellow pigment contained in the turmeric root, may help combat a common type of liver disease called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis is the most extreme form of Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a condition that causes inflammation and fat accumulation in the liver cells, not because of excessive alcohol consumption.

Though the exact reason behind the disease is not known, it is generally seen in people suffering from type 2 diabetes, obesity, and insulin resistance.

Scientists suggest that higher levels of leptin, glucose and insulin in blood could be responsible for causing obesity and type 2 diabetes, which might further contribute to NASH-linked liver fibrosis.

Study details and findings
To reach at this conclusion, Anping Chen, director of research at pathology department in Saint Louis University studied the effect of curcurmin on role of high level of leptin in causing liver fibrosis in vitro.

Lead researcher, Anping Chen of Saint Louis University said, "My laboratory studies the molecular mechanism of liver fibrosis and is searching for natural ways to prevent and treat this liver damage."

Researchers noted that high level of leptin activates hepatic stellate cells in liver.
"Leptin plays a critical role in the development of liver fibrosis," Chen said.

The study authors also found that curcurmin neutralized the effects of leptin on activating hepatic stellate cells, which reduced the development of liver damage.

When the liver is damaged, stellate cells get activated. The activated stellate cell is characterized by proliferation, contractility, and chemotactic movement. These cells secrete collagen scar tissue, which further leads to liver cirrhosis, they explained.

"While research in an animal model and human clinical trials are needed, our study suggests that curcumin may be an effective therapy to treat and prevent liver fibrosis, which is associated with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)," said Chen.