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Nano Curcumin and its hidden potentials | 2023

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Nano curcumin are the tiny particles, that possess improved physical and chemical properties for better health benefits.

In this article, we are going to discuss details about nano curcumin formulation and its therapeutic roles.

hidden potentials of nano curcumin

Are you excited to know about its hidden therapeutic potential? Kindly read this.

What is nano curcumin?

These are the modified form of native curcumin, in which the native form of curcumin is converted into nanoparticles.

In recent trends of the year, nano curcumin has proven its potential and become popularised day by day in the healthcare field.

These are produced by various advanced methods to keep and improve the medicinal values of these ancient medicinal compound curcumin, which have been discussed below

Nano curcumin possesses a broad range of health benefits such as better solubility, delivery, absorption, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties as compared to native curcumin.

Difference between curcumin and nanocurcumin

The physical and physiological properties of nano curcumin are greatly improved as compared to native curcumin. These include;

Better absorption

Native curcumin is highly hydrophobic; therefore, they are less soluble in water, as a result, it is mostly excreted out of the system after consumption.

Whereas nano curcumin has improved solubility properties, resulting in higher intracellular absorption as compared to native curcumin.

Due to the higher absorption of the nano curcumin, they are easily reachable to the cells throughout the body and they can produce their medicinal effects.

Better targeting

Due to the lower solubility properties of normal curcumin or turmeric, a higher amount of curcumin gets flushed out of the body.

As a result, its concentration in the blood is diluted and can not reach each and every cell or targeted cell in the body.

While the improved absorption properties of nano curcumin help them to reach every tissue or cell of the body and can reach the targeted pathological as well as healthy cells.

The benefits of this targeting have been described in this article.

Stronger effects:

Due to the higher bioavailability and targeting properties, the nano curcumin shows stronger health benefits as compared to the native curcumin.

Lower toxic effects

As we know, a higher dosage of any compound may create various side effects and sometimes serious health problems.

Likewise, although turmeric or native curcumin possesses medicinal effects, due to its lower bioavailability, we require more dosages.

In this context, the nano curcumin can be directed toward the target tissues in very fewer quantities and can prevent unwanted toxicity to the other organs.

Lesser dosage and faster effect

Since nano curcumin possesses the properties of higher bioavailability, consumption of very less concentration can produce very stronger beneficial effects.

Further, the targeting properties of nano curcumin add faster therapeutic effects as compared to native curcumin or turmeric.


Must read: Nanotechnology Products in Daily Life in 2022


Nano curcumin formulation

There are various techniques have been developed for the synthesis of nano curcumin over the past several years.

These include nanoprecipitation, microemulsion, polymerization, solvent evaporation method, etc.

By these techniques, there are several nano formulations have been created, which have a great impact on therapeutic applications and confirmed to be useful in the diagnosis of various human diseases.

Amongst these techniques, the liposomal nano formulation is the most popular.

Liposome

These are the spherical vesicles, possessing single or multiple phospholipid bilayers. These bilayers very closely resemble the cell membrane structures.

As the curcumins are highly hydrophobic, in the aqueous medium containing amphiphilic lipid molecules, these get encapsulated into it.

The hydrophobic interactions cause the formation of unique conformation and the formation of curcumin nanostructures.

These nanostructures possessing curcumin improved the solubility, and bioavailability of curcumin, which enhances their distribution in the aqueous medium or blood and therapeutic effects of nano-sized curcumin.

Thus, nano-sized liposomes are the ideal delivery system for biologically active substances like curcumin.

These liposomes comprise curcumin and show improved properties such as higher biocompatibility, biodegradability, solubility and stability, lower toxicity, and targeting specific cells.

The major therapeutic application of this nano formulation of curcumin includes enhanced antimalarial, anti-melanoma (serious type of skin cancer) effects, and excellent anticancer activity.

Nano curcumin capsules supplement

The nano curcumin supplement is the nano-sized form of curcumin produced by the above-said methods.

After the synthesis of nano curcumin, the water or other solvents are removed and dried to get powder form and packed in the form of capsules.

In summary, the nano curcumin capsules are prepared in such a manner that, it can produce most of the therapeutic benefits.

Health benefits of nano curcumin capsule supplements / What is Nano curcumin good for?

These possess excellent therapeutic properties such as strong wound healing, and suppression of tumour growth and cancer than native curcumin.

Further, these nano curcumin supplements possess improved antioxidant properties, which help in fighting free radicals and harmful toxic substances in the body. Thus, antioxidant properties cleanse the body by detoxifying free radicals.

Sometimes due to the overproduction of bile acids, we face the problems of improper digestion and ultimately watery diarrhea. In this case, the nano curcumin capsule supplement improves digestion by reducing bile overproduction.

The nano curcumin capsules also minimize the risk of frequent sickness by strengthening the immune system of the body.

These days most of us suffering from joint disorders and arthritis as well. Thus, nano curcumin capsules reduce arthritis and soothe the stiffness of joints.


You May Also Read: Beware of Newly Discovered Vaccine-resistant Coronavirus of Russian Bats!


Nano curcumin benefits and uses

Although native or normal curcumin possesses therapeutic benefits but the uses of nano curcumin gradually become popular due to its broad range of health and therapeutic benefits.

As nano curcumin is the nano-size form of curcumin, it possesses various advantages over native or normal curcumin and overcomes various therapeutic limitations.

The improved therapeutic properties include; anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, antifibrosis, and anti-amyloid, and it has potential in the prevention and treatment of many other diseases.

Anti-inflammatory properties

Normally inflammation occurs due to injury, infection, foreign objects, or toxins getting into the body and causing harm to the body.

During the inflammation, the body secretes some chemical molecules, which neutralize the harmful objects or substances, and sometimes these chemicals are over-produced and cause serious problems inside the body.

Thus, the potent anti-inflammatory properties of nano curcumin reduce the overproduction of these anti-inflammatory molecules.

For example, the hyperresponsiveness of the airway and infiltration of the inflammatory cells due to asthma or allergies can be suppressed by the curcumin-solid lipid nanoparticles.

Antioxidant properties of nano curcumin

Due to the ionizing radiations such as X-rays, gamma rays, high energy ultraviolet radiation, and the non-enzymatic reaction of oxygen with the organic compounds, free radicals such as reactive oxygen and nitrogen species are produced.

These free radicals are unstable atoms, which can damage cells, causing illness and accelerating the aging process.

These are very much harmful to the body and their increased levels can cause multiple diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

Thus, nano curcumin has the potential to scavenge these free radicals and exhibit antioxidant properties by detoxifying and cleansing the body.

Antimicrobial properties

The curcumin nano formulations show a wide range of antimicrobial activity against bacteria, fungi, and some viruses.

The enhanced solubility properties of nano curcumin show improved antimicrobial properties against S. aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Helicobacter pylori, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The nano curcumin formulation also enhances the endocytosis process and thus exhibited three times greater anti-HIV activity as compared to the native curcumin.

Nano curcumin and cancer

As we know that everything in control is ok.

Likewise, in our body, the cells are divided in a controlled manner by various checkpoints and programmed cell death or apoptosis.

But when our body loses control over it a particular tissue or organ results in uncontrolled cell proliferation.

This uncontrolled cell proliferation causes the development of tumour and ultimately cancer and as time passes these cells migrates to other body parts or organs.

According to various studies, nano curcumin shows excellent anticancer properties as compared to native or normal curcumin.

Thus, nanocurcumin possesses great potential to induce apoptosis and suppress various cancers such as breast, lung, colorectal, prostate, pancreatic, liver, skin, and plasma cancers.

The nano curcumins also suppress the expression of cancer-causing genes.

Anti-amyloid properties

If you are thinking about this complicated term… Don’t worry we will discuss it in the simplest manner.

Amyloid-beta is a protein, which seems to be innocent but has evil-altered egos.

That means, it plays an important role in the growth and repair of nerve cells in the brain, but later in life, its corrupted form destroyed the nerve cells and leads to loss of thought process and memory. This condition is known as Alzheimer’s disease.

According to various studies, the three months of oral administration of nano curcumin reduces the plaque density of this resident evil.

Further, the commercially available drugs are unable to cross the blood-brain barrier and shows less effective against neuronal diseases.

But due to the nano size (1 to 100 nanometers) of the nanocurcumin, it easily penetrates the blood-brain barrier and reduces the severity of Alzheimer’s disease as well as improves the self-healing mechanism of the brain.


Related: Why You Should Worry About Alzheimer’s Disease


Nanocurcumin cholesterol

The studies show that nanocurcumin significantly reduces cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein level and thus may also limit the risk for stroke.

Nanocurcumin covid

The COVID-19 progression results in the hyperactivation of the immune system of the body.

During this situation, the body produces excessive pro-inflammatory cytokines and this condition is known as “cytokine storm”, which causes multiorgan failure.

Thus, nanocurcumin inhibits SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-induced cytokine storm and may give relief from the life-threatening condition.


Related: Beware of Post-COVID Complications due to COVID-19!


What are the negative side effects of curcumin? or Nano curcumin side effects

Definitely, the overconsumption of any food materials can create some side effects.

Likewise, despite the above benefits, the excess consumption of nano curcumin or native curcumin may show side effects like diarrhea, headache, rash, and yellow stool.

Further, the consumption of curcumin is considered safe for most people.

But there is some potential risk for people who have iron deficiencies, breastfeeding, and pregnant woman because taking more curcumin reduces the iron absorption process.

Further, curcumin can also interact with certain medications such as blood thinners, antacids, sulfasalazine, and diabetes medications.

  • Blood thinners: The blood-thinning effects of blood thinner medication such as aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), and warfarin (Coumadin) may be evoked by the curcumin dangerously.
  • Therefore, it is not recommended not to take curcumin while taking these medications.
  • Antacids: When taking turmeric or curcumin along with antacids such as ranitidine (Zantac), famotidine (Pepcid), and Omeprazole (Prilosec) may cause overproduction of stomach acids.
  • Sulfasalazine: This medication is used for the treatment of ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and Crohn’s disease.
  • Thus, oral administration of curcumin at therapeutic doses or even microdoses can significantly elevate the plasma concentrations of sulphasalazine.
  • Diabetes: Turmeric or curcumin may create the risk of hypoglycemia, a condition in which blood sugar levels became very low by strengthening the effects of medications used for the control of type 2 diabetes.

Dosage of nano curcumin

we recommend that before taking Nanocurcumin supplement capsules you should consult your physician or dietician.

FAQ related to Nano Curcumin

Is Nano curcumin water soluble?

Nano curcumin is the modified form of curcumin and is more water soluble than native curcumin, whereas native curcumin is less water soluble due to its highly hydrophobic nature.

Who should not take curcumin?

People with certain medications such as blood thinners, antacids, sulfasalazine, diabetes medications, iron deficiencies, breastfeeding, and pregnant woman are not advised to take curcumin.

Which is better nano curcumin or curcumin

It possesses improved physical, chemical as well as therapeutic properties for better health benefits.

References:

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  • Ghosh S, Banerjee S, Sil PC. The beneficial role of curcumin on inflammation, diabetes and neurodegenerative disease: A recent update. Food Chem Toxicol. 2015 Jun 9. pii: S0278-6915(15)00187-8. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2015.05.022. [Epub ahead of print] Review. PubMed PMID: 26066364.
  • Hu S et al., Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2018. Interaction study between antiplatelet agents, anticoagulants, thyroid replacement therapy and a bioavailable formulation of curcumin (Meriva). PMID: 30070343
  • Karthikeyan A, Senthil N, Min T. Nanocurcumin: A Promising Candidate for Therapeutic Applications. Front Pharmacol. 2020 May 1;11:487. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2020.00487. PMID: 32425772; PMCID: PMC7206872.
  • Kusuhara H, Furuie H, Inano A, Sunagawa A, Yamada S, Wu C, Fukizawa S, Morimoto N, Ieiri I, Morishita M, Sumita K, Mayahara H, Fujita T, Maeda K, Sugiyama Y. Pharmacokinetic interaction study of sulphasalazine in healthy subjects and the impact of curcumin as an in vivo inhibitor of BCRP. Br J Pharmacol. 2012 Jul;166(6):1793-803. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2012.01887.x. PMID: 22300367; PMCID: PMC3402804.
  • Sharma VK, Prateeksha, Singh SP, Singh BN, Rao CV, Barik SK. Nanocurcumin Potently Inhibits SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein-Induced Cytokine Storm by Deactivation of MAPK/NF-κB Signaling in Epithelial Cells. ACS Appl Bio Mater. 2022 Feb 21;5(2):483-491. doi: 10.1021/acsabm.1c00874. Epub 2022 Feb 3. PMID: 35112841; PMCID: PMC8845439.
  • Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD. Tumeric. University of Maryland Medical Center. http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/turmeric Last reviewed on 6/26/2014. Accessed July 11, 2015.

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