A new study found that a bioactive compound in turmeric, or curry spice, helps in the brain's stem cell propagation and differentiation. Findings of the study could be useful in developing drugs to cure neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and stroke.
Researchers from the Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine in Julich, Germany looked at the effects of the curry spice in endogenous neural stem cells (NSC), a type of stem cells found in brains of adult humans that help in the recovery and self-repair of brain functions. The team observed the interaction of the curry spice with the brains of six rats.
The rats were fed different amounts of curry spice for 72 hours. The experiment showed that those exposed to certain amount of curry spice increased the number of NSCs in the brain by 80 percent.
In another experiment, the researchers injected ar-turmerone (turmeric) into the adult rats before subjecting them to PET imaging and tracer to determine the spread of cells. Those who were given the injection showed wider hippocampus and subventicular zones, two areas of the brain responsible for the growth of neurons, compared to those who did not.
"While several substances have been described to promote stem cell proliferation in the brain, fewer drugs additionally promote the differentiation of stem cells into neurons, which constitutes a major goal in regenerative medicine. Our findings on aromatic turmerone take us one step closer to achieving this goal," said study author Adele Reuger.
The study is still in its early stage and researchers admitted that further study is needed to prove if the increased cells in the brain could actually help repair the brain damage and regeneration.
Further findings of the study were published in the Sept. 27 issue of Stem Cell Research and Therapy.
