The Hindu Business Line : Clinical studies to be done on turmeric extract for cancer cure

A major breakthrough to treat cancer using bio-enhanced reconstituted turmeric extract could be expected once the clinical studies on the efficacy of this product is completed at the national level.

A Central Government agency has already expressed interest to support conducting clinical studies on the product developed by the Kerala-based Arjuna Natural Extracts Ltd, an ISO 9001:2000 certified company, Mr P.J. Kunjachan, Managing Director of the company, told Business Line. It might take two years to complete the study, he said.

He said that turmeric (Curcuma longa) contains a variety of bioactive substances called curcuminoids. The most active component is curcum, an orange-yellow volatile oil that includes three curcuminoids Ar-turmerone, Atlantone, and Zingiberone.

Research shows that turmeric and its curcuminoids have a number of beneficial properties such as good antioxidant activity, comparing well with vitamin C, vitamin E and superoxide dismutase; anti-inflammatory activity, which is superior to steroidal and non-steroidal drugs and anti-cancer properties influencing all the steps of caner formation - initiation, promotion, and progression.

Besides, it protects cardiovascular system by lowering serum cholesterol and inhibiting platelet aggregation and the liver by several mechanisms. Also vitro and in vivo studies show that curcuminoids can help with HIV in a number of ways, including acting as biological response modifiers, resulting in significant increases in CD-4 and CD-8 counts, he said.

Curcumin is the active ingredient isolated from turmeric, that imparts golden yellow pigmentation to the material, he said.

According to Mr Kunjachan, the bio-enhanced reconstituted turmeric extract "is a synergistic reconstitution which enhances the bioactivity and bio-availability of curcumin."

He said that in-house research at the company's laboratory, which is approved by the Union Ministry of Science and Technology, had revealed that the bio-availability of curcumin could be enhanced five-fold by reconstituting curcumin, the active ingredient of turmeric.

"Its ability to fight against the toxic element is tremendous and once the clinical studies are successfully completed it can emerge as a wonder drug to cure cancer," he claimed.

SESAMIN

Another product the company will commence commercial production is the sesamin, which has a unique lipid lowering property by increasing the rate of fatty acid oxidation, decreasing the rate of fatty acid synthesis and reducing cholesterol absorption.

Studies have been successfully completed in animals, he claimed. Germany is a major producer of this product and it is highly priced and in great demand across the world, he said.

"In the near future, the natural drugs will play a significant role in curing many diseases". But, developing such drugs requires extensive research and development activities, which the companies alone may not be able to undertake because of the huge investments involved, he said. Therefore, he said, the Government needs to come forward to support research activities aimed at developing natural remedies for various diseases, as the investment needed for R&D is very high.

Raw materials are abundantly available in the country and those are at short supply could be imported, he said.

The GMP accredited public limited company is engaged in manufacturing and exporting a range of herbal and spice extracts and essential oils in addition to essential fatty acids from marine and vegetable sources. Its products are marketed in 42 countries, he said.

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