Curcumin 300mg and Piperine

Our food supplement Curcumin and Piperine is highly dosed, 300mg per capsule, which is almost the maximum you can find.

The great strength of our formulation is the combination of Curcumin and Piperine. Piperine allows a much greater bioavailability of curcumin.

The luxury bottle is made of amber glass to protect from light and keep all the properties. 2 years shelf life !

Table of contents

• 1. Turmeric and curcumin
• 2. Applications of curcumin
• 3. Curcumin in food
• 4. Discovery of curcumin
• 5. Chemistry of curcumin
• 6. When to use curcumin ?
• 7. What are the researched and studied pharmacological properties and actions of curcumin ?
• 8. What benefits has curcumin shown in studies ?
• 9. Bioavailability of curcumin
• 10. Turmeric and cancer
• 11. Curcumin and inflammation
• 12. Curcumin and Alzheimer's disease
• 13. Curcumin and cardiovascular health
• 14. How does curcumin work against arthritis ?
• 15. How does curcumin work against Crohn's disease ?
• 16. How does curcumin accelerate wound healing ?
• 17. How does curcumin work against psoriasis ?
• 18. Curcumin and C-reactive protein
• 19. How to use curcumin and curcuminoids ?
• 20. Side effects
• 21. Contraindications
• 22. Pharmacological interactions
• 23. Precautions for use
• 24. Bibliographic references

1. Turmeric and curcumin

Curcumin is a bright yellow-orange plant pigment. It is abundantly represented in the tuberous rhizome (root) of various species of turmeric, including Curcumalonga (or Curcuma domestica). Turmeric root is particularly used in Indian and Asian cuisine to prepare curries and various typical local sauces, while in Ayurvedic medicine, due to its curcumin content, it has been used for centuries to treat a wide variety of ailments.

Similar to the colour of saffron, in the food and cosmetics industry, curcumin is a yellow-orange colouring food additive, labelled E100.

In nutrition, curcumin is also used as a supplement because of its nutritional properties.

2. Applications of curcumin

In summary, the most common uses of curcumin are as follows :

• Foodsupplement or dietary reinforcement
• Food or cosmetic additive
• Flavouring for food, e.g. turmeric-flavoured drinks, which are particularly popular in Japan.

Annual sales of curcumin have particularly increased since 2012, due to its growing popularity as a dietary supplement.

It is also increasingly used in skin care cosmetics based on natural ingredients.

As a dye, it is mainly used on the Asian continent.

The most economically important market is in North America, where sales exceeded $20 million in 2014.

3. Curcumin in food

Curcumin is the most abundant and characteristic curcuminoid in turmeric (root). According to studies, the average curcumin content of dried turmeric root powder is about 3%, which varies considerably (1.06% - 5.70%) depending on the species, soil and environmental conditions in which the plant grows.

More modest and even more variable would be the concentrations of curcumin in curry and other curry products.

4. Discovery of curcumin

Curcumin was first isolated from turmeric rhizomes in 1815 by Vogel and Pelletier, who gave it the name still used today.

5. Chemistry of curcumin

Curcumin belongs to the group of curcuminoids.

Chemically and nutritionally, curcumin is classified as a phenol (more precisely, a polyphenol) and, as will be described, it has a number of important metabolic advantages. In particular, curcumin belongs to a small class of secondary plant metabolites known as diarylheptanoids.

In its chemical structure, it incorporates several functional groups, the structure of which was only identified in 1910 (almost a century after its discovery).

Curcumin is used as a boron indicator and reacts with boric acid to form a reddish compound called "rosocyanin".

6. When to use curcumin ?

Although the mechanism of action of curcumin, and more generally of curcuminoids, is not yet fully understood, recent data have made it possible to identify the first therapeutic indications.
Specifically, curcumin and curcuminoids appear to have functions :

• Antioxidants: they protect cellular structures against the harmful effects of oxygen free radicals.
• Anti-inflammatory: by reducing the expression of enzymesinvolved in the development of the inflammatoryreaction.
• Antitumour: on the one hand by inhibiting the neoangiogenesis process and on the other hand by inducing the apoptotic process.

For these reasons, curcumin and curcuminoids have been used for many years in the following areas :

• Treatment of inflammatory diseases, including chronic diseases
• Prevention of ageing and oxidative diseases such as cataract
• Management of osteoarthritis and arthritic pathology
• Prevention of neurodegenerativediseases such as Alzheimer's
• Detoxification of toxic substances
• Hepato-protection

7. What are the researched and studied pharmacological properties and actions of curcumin ?

688 studies, of which more than 400 have been published in the last four years, confirm the remarkable anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of curcumin. In recent years, interest in the potential of curcumin as a neuroprotective agent has increased.

Many researchers are increasingly convinced that the most primitive part of the immune system (the part that manifests itself as inflammation), may play a crucial role in some of the diseases of modern man, including heart disease, cancer, diabetes and possibly Alzheimer's disease.

Standardised extract Curcumin 95%
The standardised extract contains at least 95% curcuminoids, curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin, the full range of antioxidants extracted from turmeric. This is the exact percentage used in many clinical studies.

Unlike many other antioxidants, curcuminoids are able to both prevent the formation of free radicals and neutralise existing free radicals, and are considered effective bioprotectors because of this dual activity.

8. What benefits has curcumin shown in studies ?

The most interesting properties of curcumin - as they are potentially useful in the treatment of a wide range of diseases - are the following :

• Antioxidants
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antitumour agents

The studies currently published in the literature on the potential preventive and therapeutic effects of curcumin and curcuminoids are very interesting.

Although most of this work has been carried out in experimental models, there is no lack of valuable information for humans in vivo. There is, however, a metabolic aspect which, while being a drawback to the generic effect on tumour forms, gives curcumin a specific efficacy on the digestive system; this is bioavailability.

9. Bioavailability of curcumin

Clinical studies in humans show that curcumin is poorly bioavailable when taken orally; specifically, curcumin is rapidly conjugated in the liver and intestines to curcumin glucuronide and curcumin sulphate, or reduced to hexahydrocurcumin; these metabolites have lower biological activity than curcumin. Pharmacokinetic studies have shown that if curcumin is taken at doses below 3.6-4 g/day, curcumin itself and its metabolites may be undetectable in plasma.

On the other hand, it is scientifically proven that orally administered curcumin tends to accumulate in the tissues of the digestive tract, where it exerts its most interesting and proven biological and therapeutic activities. Outside this route, the limited bioavailability of the substance raises more doubts about its potential clinical applications, which are very promising in vitro and in animal models, but difficult to transfer to the whole human being.

It is no coincidence that curcumin's ability to induce the death of various types of tumour cells in vitro has generated interest in the prevention of certain types of cancer, such as oral cancer, gastric cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer and especially colorectal cancer.

Numerous methods have been devised to better assimilate it and reinforce its effects, including the use of adjuvants to improve its intestinal absorption and reduce its elimination. The best known are piperine (an alkaloid found in black pepper) and oil fats. By combining turmeric with these ingredients, its bioavailability can be increased.

Mechanism of action of piperine :
Piperine works by inhibiting the glucuronidation of curcumin in the liver and intestines. Glucuronidation is one of the most important reactions by which the body detoxifies and eliminates foreign compounds. By blocking this process, curcumin is not eliminated and can circulate to exert its effects.

Mechanism of action of the oil :
Since curcumin is a hydrophobic substance, not very soluble in water but very soluble in lipids, combining it with olive oil (or any other type of fat) considerably increases its solubility and facilitates its absorption.

10. Turmeric and cancer

Along with lycopene (tomatoes), genistein (soybeans), resveratrol (red wine), quercetin (onions, capers, many other vegetables) and epigallocatechin-3gallate (green tea), curcumin is one of the most studied plant molecules for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and potential chemopreventive properties against different types of cancer.

While lycopene and genistein have shown potential applications against prostate cancer, resveratrol and curcumin appear to be more active against colon cancer.

As explained above, curcumin tends to accumulate in the tissues of the digestive system, where it has the most preventive and therapeutic applications.

At the present stage of science, curcumin supplementation may well be considered by physicians both to prevent the development of gastrointestinal cancers in susceptible individuals and as an adjunct to traditional chemotherapeuticagents such as 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin.

There is evidence in the literature of the effectiveness of curcumin, particularly in the treatment of the following forms of cancer:

• Breast cancer
• Lung cancer
• Haematological and lymphatic system tumours
• Stomach cancer
• Cancer of the oral cavity
• Colorectal cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Liver cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Brain tumours
• Mesothelioma
• Fibrosarcoma
• Melanoma

Various studies have also shown that curcumin is also an excellent aid in combating the typical side effects of chemotherapy:

• Gastrointestinal toxicity
• Cardiotoxicity
• Hepatotoxicity
• Nephrotoxicity
• Myelosuppression
• Neurotoxicity

11. Curcumin and inflammation

There is considerable experimental and clinical work on the usefulness of curcumin in the management of inflammatory diseases.

Inhibiting the expression of inflammatory mediators such as TNF alpha, IL1 and IL8, curcumin has been shown to be useful in inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn'sdisease, ulcerativecolitis, chronic anterior uveitis and other rare diseases characterised by chronic inflammation. In addition to modifying the course and intensity of the disease, this supplementation has led to a significant improvement in the quality of life of affected patients.

12. Curcumin and Alzheimer's disease

Several studies have shown that curcumin can help the immune system to 'clean' the brain of beta-amyloid, the main constituent of the plaques found in Alzheimer's disease. Since Alzheimer's disease is caused in part by amyloid-induced inflammation, curcumin has been shown to be effective against this disease.

13. Curcumin and cardiovascular health

Curcumin and curcuminoids have also been shown to be effective in reducing cardiovascular risk. Their protective effect is thought to be due to their ability to inhibit the oxidation of LDL lipoproteins, known to be highly atherogenic, and to reduce vascular damage. These results, which have so far only been observed in experimental models, could nevertheless have important applications in the clinical field.

14. How does curcumin work against arthritis ?

Arthritis is also an inflammatory disease. All currently approved medications for arthritis are anti-inflammatory. Anti-TNF (tumour necrosis factor) therapy has recently been approved for this disease. Curcumin has been shown to both stop the production of TNF and block the action of TNF. Curcumin, applied topically, has been shown to have activity against arthritis.

15. How does curcumin work against Crohn's disease ?

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory disease. All currently approved drugs for this disease have anti-inflammatory activity. Anti-TNF therapy has been approved for this disease. Curcumin has been shown to block both the production and action of TNF. Oral curcumin has been shown to have activity against Crohn's disease.

16. How does curcumin accelerate wound healing ?

There is a wealth of experimental evidence suggesting that curcumin can accelerate wound healing. This has led, for example, to Johnson & Johnson marketing (in India) "Band Aid" type patches containing curcumin.

17. How does curcumin work against psoriasis ?

Psoriasis is another disease of an inflammatory nature. Significant evidence, both in animals and humans, indicates that curcumin is very effective against psoriasis when applied topically to the skin.

18. Curcumin and C-reactive protein

Curcumin appears to reduce serum C-reactive protein levels, although no dose-response relationship was observed.

Excessive C-reactive protein is linked to systemic inflammation, which in turn manifests itself in certain chronic diseases.

19. How to use curcumin and curcuminoids ?

In recent years, a number of proprietary forms of curcumin have been developed in which the substance is processed in such a way and/or conjugated with other molecules to facilitate its absorption.

As the half-life after oral administration varies from two to eight hours, it is advisable to take curcumin in several doses (3 or 4) during the day.

The usual recommended doses are 400-800 mg, repeated three times a day. It is advisable to take it on an empty stomach and with piperine or bromelain to improve its absorption.

20. Side effects

Two preliminary clinical studies of cancer patients who took high doses of curcumin (up to 8 grams per day for 3-4 months) showed no toxicity, although some people complained of nausea or mild diarrhoea.

In addition, the use of curcumin and curcuminoids has been associated, albeit rarely, with the occurrence of :

• Epigastric pain and gastritis
• Transient hypertransaminasemia

21. Contraindications

When should curcumin not be used ?

The use of curcumin and curcuminoids is contraindicated in cases of hypersensitivity to the active ingredient, biliary lithiasis and obstructive biliary disease.

22. Pharmacological interactions

What medicines or foods can alter the effect of curcumin and curcuminoids ?

There are several documented pharmacological interactions between curcumin or curcuminoids and other active ingredients. These include :

• Interaction with chemotherapeutic agents, which is responsible for increasing the antitumour action of these drugs.
• Interaction with antiplatelet agents (Plavix, Aspirinetta, CardioAspirin) responsible for increased antiplatelet activity.
• Interaction with oral anticoagulants such as warfarin (Coumadin  or Sintrom) is potentially responsible for an increased risk of bleeding

On the contrary, simultaneous intake of piperine and bromelain may increase the intestinal absorption and bioavailability of curcumin.

In experimental studies, curcumin has also been shown to reduce the nephrotoxicity of certain active ingredients.

23. Precautions for use

What should I know before taking curcumin and curcuminoids ?

In the absence of studies, the use of curcumin should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation.

Careful medical supervision when taking curcumin would be necessary in patients with gastroesophagealreflux disease or gastric ulcers, due to the potential irritant effect on the gastric mucosa. For the same reason, curcumin or curcuminoid supplements should be taken with meals.

24. Bibliographic references

1. Int J Mol Sci.2020 Feb 7. Evaluation of antioxidant activity of spice-derived phytochemicals using zebrafish. Endo Y, Muraki K, Fuse Y, Kobayashi M.
2. Eur Cardiol.2019 Jul 11. Anti-inflammatory action of curcumin and its use in the treatment of lifestyle diseases. Shimizu K, Funamoto M, Sunagawa Y, Shimizu S, Katanasaka Y, Miyazaki Y, Wada H, Hasegawa K, Morimoto T.
3. Nutrients. 2019 Oct. Curcumin, gut microbiota and neuroprotection. Francesco Di Meo,Sabrina Margarucci, Umberto Galderisi, Stefania Crispi, and Gianfranco Peluso.
4. Food Nutr Res. 2017. Regulatory effects of curcumin spice administration on gut microbiota and its pharmacological implications. Liang Shen,Lu Liu, and Hong-Fang Ji
5. Nutrients. August 2019. Curcumin and type 2 diabetes mellitus: prevention and treatment. Francesca Pivari,Alessandra Mingione, Caterina Brasacchio, and Laura Soldati.
6. Nutrients. 2013 Oct. Polyphenols: benefits for the cardiovascular system in health and aging. Sandhya Khurana,Krishnan Venkataraman, Amanda Hollingsworth, Matthew Piche and C. Tai
7. Drug Des Devel Ther.2018 Dec 3. Curcumin attenuates rheumatoid arthritis-induced inflammation and synovial hyperplasia by targeting the mTOR pathway in rats. Dai Q, Zhou , Xu L, Song X
8. Med Sci (Basel). 2017 Dec. Regulation of polyamine metabolism by curcumin for cancer prevention and therapy. Tracy Murray-Stewartet Robert A. Casero, Jr.
9. Nutrients. 5 October 2019. Curcumin and cancer. Giordano A, Tommonaro G.
10. Front Pharmacol. 2018. Preventive effect of curcumin against chemotherapy-induced side effects. Zhijun Liu,Pengyun Huang,Siukan Law, Haiyan Tian, Wingnang Leung and Chuanshan Xu.
11. Cancer Res Treat. 2014 Jan 15. Recent developments in the delivery, bioavailability, absorption and metabolism of curcumin: the golden pigment of the golden spice. Sahdeo Prasad, PhD, Amit K. Tyagi, PhD, and Bharat B. Aggarwal, PhD
12. Planta Med.1998 May. Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers. Shoba G, Joy D, Joseph T, Majeed M, Rajendran R, Srinivas PS.
13. Int J Nanomedicine.2019 Dec 10. Evaluation of intestinal absorption mechanism and pharmacokinetics of curcumin-loaded galactosylated albumin nanoparticles: Huang Y, Deng S, Luo X, Liu Y, Xu W, Pan J, Wang M, Xia Z.
14. Int J Nanomedicine.2017 Aug 21. Liposomal curcumin and its application in cancer. Feng T, Wei Y, Lee RJ, Zhao L.