Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of the antioxidant turmeric on lipoprotein peroxides: Implications for the prevention of atherosclerosis

  • Published:
AGE Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Extracts from the rhyzome of Curcuma longa are widely used as food additives in India and other Asiatic and Central American countries. It has been shown that these extracts (“turmeric”), as well as “curcumin” and related phenolic compounds isolated from Curcuma, have a powerful antioxidant action when tested in in vitro systems. Moreover, previous research from our laboratories has shown significant decreases in the levels of lipid peroxides in the blood of both mice and human subjects administered “turmeric.” Our present research complements the previous data, showing that a daily intake of turmeric equivalent to 20 mg of the phenolic antioxidant curcumin for 60 days decreases the high levels of peroxidation of both the HDL and the LDL, in vivo, in 30 healthy volunteers ranging in age from 40 to 90 years. The effect was quite striking in the persons with high baseline values of peroxidized compounds in these lipoproteins, while no apparent change took place in the persons having low baseline values.

In view of current concepts on the atherogenic role played by peroxidized HDL, and especially by peroxidized LDL, as inducers of foam and smooth cell proliferation in the arterial wall, this preliminary experiment suggests that the Curcuma phenolic antioxidants, because of their high antioxidant activity and lack of toxicity, might be a useful complement to standard hypo-lipidemic drugs in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Cummins, E.M., Hayward, M.D., and Saito, S.: Differentials in active life expectancy in the older population of the United States. J. Gerontol., Social Sciences, 51B: S111–120, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Harman, D.: Aging: a theory based on free radical and radiation chemistry. J. Gerontol., 11: 298–300, 1956.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Harman, D.: Free radical theory of aging: role of free radicals in the origination and evolution of life, aging and disease processes, in Free Radicals, Aging and Degenerative Diseases, edited by Johnson, J. E., Jr., Walford, R, Harman, D. and Miquel, J., New York, Alan R Liss, 1986, pp. 3–49.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Zs.-Nagy, I.: A membrane hypothesis of aging. J. Theoret. Biol., 75: 189–195, 1978.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Harman, D.: The biological clock: the mitochondria? J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 20: 145–147, 1972.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Miquel, J., Economos A.C., Fleming, J., Bensch, K.G., Atlan, H. and Johnson J.E. Jr.: Mitochondrial role in cell aging. Exptl. Gerontol., 15: 575–591, 1980.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Fleming, J.E., Miquel, J., Cottrell, L.S., and Yengoyan L.S.: Is cell aging caused by respiration-dependent injury to the mitochondrial genome? Gerontology 28: 44–53, 1982.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Miquel, J.: An update on the mitochondrial-DNA mutation hypothesis of cell aging. Mutation Res., 275: 209–216, 1992.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Harman, D.: Free radical theory of aging: nutritional implications. Age 1: 145–152, 1978.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Weber, H. and Miquel, J.: Antioxidant supplementation and longevity. In Nutritional Aspects of Aging, edited by Chen, L., Boca Raton, CRC Press, Vol. 1, 1986, pp. 42–49.

    Google Scholar 

  11. De la Fuente, M., Ferrandez, D., Muñoz, F., De Juan, E. and Miquel, J.: Stimulation by the antioxidant thioproline of the lymphocyte functions of old mice. Mech. Ageing Dev. 68: 27–36, 1993.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Miquel, J., Martínez, M., Diez, A., De Juan, E., Soler, A., Ramirez, A., Laborda, J. and Carrión, M.: Effects of turmeric on blood and liver lipoperoxide levels of mice: lack of toxicity. Age 18: 171–174, 1995.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Ramirez-Boscá, A., Soler, A., Carrión Gutiérrez, M.A., Laborda Alvarez, A. and Quintanilla Almagro, E.: Antioxidant curcuma extracts decrease the blood lipid peroxide levels of human subjects. Age 18: 167–169, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Azuine, M.A. and Bhide S.V.: Chemopreventive effect of turmeric against stomach and skin tumors induced by chemical carcinogens in Swiss mice. Nutr. Cancer 17: 77–83, 1992.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Soni K.B., Rajan, A. and Juttan, R.: Reversal of aflatoxin-induced liver damage by turmeric and curcumin. Cancer Letters 66: 115–121, 1992.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Toda, S: Natural antioxidants. III. Antioxidative components isolated from rhizome of Curcuma Longa L. Chem. Pharm. Bull. 33: 1725–1728, 1985.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Masuda, T., Isobe, J., Jitoe, A. and Nakatani, N.: Antioxidative curcuminoids from rhizomes of Curcuma xantorrhyza. Phytochemistry 31: 3645–3647, 1992.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Jitoe, A., Masuda, T., Tengah, I.G.P., Suprapta, D.N., Gara, I.W. and Nakatani, N: Antioxidant activity of tropical ginger extracts and analysis of the contained curcuminoids. J. Agrc. Food Chem. 40: 1337–1340, 1992.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Sharma, O.P.: Antioxidant activity of curcumin and related compounds. Biochem. Pharmacol., 25: 1811–1812, 1976.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Henning, B. and Chow, C.K.: Lipid peroxidation and endothelial cell injury: implications in atherosclerosis. Free Rad. Biol. Med. 4: 99–106, 1988.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Ross, R. The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis: a perspective for the 1990’s. Nature 362: 801–809, 1993.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Povear, H., Santos, C., Gammaro, R., Camara, M., and Oliveira Lima, A.: Peroxidized LDL: a new risk factor in atherosclerosis. Presented at the “International Congress on Free Radicals and Aging,” Paris, 26–28 September 1991.

  23. Ohkava, M., Ohishi, N., and Yagi; K.: Assay for lipid peroxides in animal tissues by thiobarbituric acid reaction. Anal. Biochem. 95: 351–358, 1979.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Harman, D.: Atherosclerosis: oxidation of serum lipoproteins and its relationship to pathogenesis. Clin Res. 8: 108, 1960.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Yagi, K., Ohkawa, H., Ohishi, N., Yamashita, M., and Nakashima, T.: Lesion of aortic intima caused by intravenous administration of linoleic acid hydroperoxide. J. Appl. Biochem. 3: 58–67, 1981.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Yagi, K.: Serum lipid peroxide levels in subjects having certain diseases and aging. In CRC Handbook of Free Radicals and Antioxidants in Biomedicine, Vol. 1, edited by Miquel, J., Quintanilha, A. and Weber, H., Boca Ratón, CRC Press, 1989, pp. 223–230.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Santos, M. T., Valles, J. and Aznar, J.: Plasma lipid peroxides in patients with vascular disease and in middle-aged normal subjects with a high risk of atherosclerosis. In CRC Handbook of Free Radicals and Antioxidants in Biomedicine, edited by Miquel, J., Quintanilha, A. and Weber, H., Boca Raton, CRC Press, 1989, pp. 237–254.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Mitchinson, M.J.: Macrophages, oxidized lipids and atherosclerosis. Med. Hypotheses 12: 171–178, 1983.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Carpenter, K.L.H., Wilkins, G.M. and Fussele, B.: Production of oxidized lipids during modification of low-density lipoprotein by macrophages or copper. Biochem. J. 304: 625–633, 1994.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Holvoet, P. and Collen, D.: Oxidized lipoproteins in atherosclerosis and thrombosis. FASEB J. 8: 1279–1284, 1994.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Johnson, E.J.: Aging and carotene nutriture. Age 16: 59–66, 1993.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Rimm, E.B.: Vitamin E consumption and the risk of coronary heart disease in men. N. Engl. J. Med. 328: 1450–1456, 1993.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Stephens, N.G., Parsons, A., Schofield, P.M., Kelly, F., Cheeseman, K., Mitchinson, M.J.: Randomized controlled trial of vitamin E in patients with coronary disease: Cambridge heart antioxidant study (CHAOS). The Lancet 347: 781–786, 1996.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Faramarz, A., Suzuki, S., Hua-Zhou, J., Isshiki, N., and Miyachi, Y.: Involvement of lipid peroxidation in necrosis of skin flaps and its suppression by ellagic acid. Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 94: 1027–1035, 1994.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. A.S.A.C. Pharmaceutical International, A.I.E., Alicante, Spain

    A. Ramirez Bosca, M. A. Carrión Gutierrez & E. Quintanilla

  2. Ibermútua, Alicante, Spain

    A. Soler

  3. Hogar Provincial, Alicante, Spain

    C. Puerta

  4. Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, University of Alicante, Spain

    A. Diez &  J. Miquel

  5. Dpt. of Dermatology, J.W. Goethe U. Frankfurt, Germany

    A. Bernd

  6. Farmacologia, Facultad de Medicina, Aptdo. 374, E-03080, San Juan-Alicante, Spain

    J. Miquel

Authors
  1. A. Ramirez Bosca
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. A. Carrión Gutierrez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. Soler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. C. Puerta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A. Diez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. E. Quintanilla
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. A. Bernd
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. J. Miquel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

About this article

Cite this article

Ramirez Bosca, A., Carrión Gutierrez, M.A., Soler, A. et al. Effects of the antioxidant turmeric on lipoprotein peroxides: Implications for the prevention of atherosclerosis. AGE 20, 165–168 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-997-0015-z

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-997-0015-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation