THE PERFECT IMMUNITY BOOSTER; CURCUMIN: RECIPE INSIDE!

Cancer is one of the primary causes of death in recent times. For relief, in recent years, the early diagnosis and increase in therapeutic options have reduced the death rate. However, the growth of drug-resistant cancers necessitates the search for innovative and more effective drugs [1]. It is worth noting that cancer cells feature deregulated signalling pathways that involve apoptosis, proliferation, and angiogenesis [2].

The quest for an efficient and less toxic cancer treatment strategy is still a priority for researchers. Curcumin has garnered attention as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer agent over the past decades. Let’s dig a little into it:

In Detail: More about Curcumin

Curcumin, a polyphenol extracted from Curcuma longa, has gotten attention from researchers for its biological activities. Among all the benefits, anticancer potential is the most talked about. The present studies focus on the cell signalling pathways in cancer development and proliferation, targeted by curcumin. The substance modulates enzymes, growth factors, transcription factors, inflammatory cytokines, kinase, and proapoptotic and antiapoptotic proteins. The compound, alone or combined with other agents, can be an effective drug for cancer therapy.

The therapeutic impacts of curcumin have been demonstrated in multiple chronic diseases [3] like inflammation, arthritis, metabolic syndrome, liver disease, obesity, neurodegenerative diseases and, above all, in several cancers [4].

Different Curcumin Delivery Systems for Cancer Therapy

Various delivery systems for curcumin have been designed using nanotechnology to improvise curcumin properties & targetability. For the rational design of the nanoformulations, many factors need to be considered to enhance the potential and enhance cellular targeting of anticancer agents. Here are a few systems used for Cancer Therapy:

Polymeric Nanoparticles

Different polymers are being utilized to prepare nanoformulations for curcumin drug delivery to improve its biological activity [5]. Biodegradable synthetic polymers and natural polymers have become widely used in drug delivery. PLGA-curcumin nanoformulation is effective as curcumin at 15-fold lower concentration in inhibiting mRNAs for inflammatory cytokines and increasing anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) in the brain [6]. Studies [7,8] compare the anticancer activity of curcumin-loaded PLGA nanoparticles (CUR-NPs) and curcumin-loaded PLGA nanoparticles conjugated to anti-P-glycoprotein (P-gp) (CUR-NPs-APgp). The PLGA nanospheres were capable and released ASC-J9 intracellularly, leading to growth inhibition of estrogen-dependent MCF-7 cancer cells [9].

Liposomes

Nanoscale liposomes are one of the most beneficial drug delivery systems for anticancer agents. Recent studies prove that liposome formulations improve treatment for drug-resistant tumours & reduce toxicity. Several liposome preparations have been utilized to encapsulate curcumin. The liposomal lipid bilayer, dihexyl phosphate, solubilizes curcumin. Despite low encapsulation efficiency, it has demonstrated twenty-fold higher cytotoxic activity than unprocessed curcumin in various cell lines, including human HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma, A549 lung carcinoma, HT29 colorectal carcinoma, and cervical carcinoma [10].

Nanogels

Hydrogels & nanogels have gained considerable attention from research communities as a promising drug delivery system, with some studies investigating the curcumin-nanogel delivery in cancer therapy. Among natural polymers, chitin, chitosan, and alginate have garnered the most attention for preparing nanogels in drug delivery [11]. A curcumin-loaded chitin nanogel is used as a transdermal system to treat skin cancer and human skin melanoma without compromising the antitumor activity of curcumin.

Peptide and Protein Formulations

Hydrogels & polymeric materials have shown promising results in curcumin drug delivery. Some studies investigate the physical properties & therapeutic efficacy of the curcumin-loaded, self-assembling (MAX8) peptide (β-hairpin) hydrogel system. The new system combines multiple advantages such as curcumin stabilization, enhanced delivery, and controlled drug release by changing MAX8 peptide concentration. Encapsulating curcumin within the hydrophobic core of β-casein micelles increased its aqueous solubility by 2500 times, making it great to include in many cancer treatment systems.

Cyclodextrin Complexes

Cyclodextrins are cyclic oligosaccharides consisting of a hydrophilic outer layer and lipophilic core. These complexes provide several beneficial properties in drug delivery, including increased bioavailability, enhanced solubility, and improved stability. Few studies have used cyclodextrins in curcumin delivery to minimize degradation bioavailability and reduce nonselective toxicity [12]. A β-cyclodextrin–curcumin self-assembling preparation showed higher uptake of curcumin by prostate cancer cells than unprocessed curcumin.

Anticancer Activity of Curcumin

Curcumin has yielded promising results in defeating cancer cell growth and proliferation in different types of cancer. Clinical use of curcumin is still under investigation, both as a monotherapy and in combination with other drugs. The assessment of curcumin mixed with other medications as chemotherapeutic or adjuvant to standard treatments in cancer disease has been reported. It is worth noting that some of the most recent clinical trials on curcumin have found it to be a therapeutic agent and more studies are underway to prove some wonderful properties.

Immunity Booster Recipe:

We have always been vocal about natural ways of healing and staying healthy. We have provided many recipes for your health and immunity, staying on the right and natural path to keep your body, mind and soul-aligned rightly. Here we bring you another easy pre-mix recipe for turmeric tea, which can be prepared and stored for any time use.

Commonly known as ‘golden tea’, you can customise this beverage with several ingredients, all according to your palate. You are free to customise the mix ratio, but a mix of 3:3:2:2:1 (turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, clove, and black pepper) is the best.

Ingredients required:

Turmeric Powder- 3 tablespoons

Ginger powder – 3 tablespoons

Cinnamon powder – 2 tablespoons

Clove – 2 tablespoons

Black pepper powder – 1 tablespoon

Mix well and store them in an airtight glass container and keep it free from any moisture.

To prepare your cup of this immunity booster tea, you can simply make green tea, black tea or milk tea, as per your choice, with this pre-mix. Alternatively, you can add one teaspoon of this mix to a cup of boiling water and reduce it to make a concoction. Compliment it with jaggery or honey to add a slight tinge of flavour and enjoy.

This tea is excellent for detoxification and has incredible anti-bacterial, anti-inflammation, anti-fungal and antioxidants.

Team Healing Oracle wishes health and mindfulness while you sip this tea daily for better immunity and healthy life.

We do the research you decide,

Love and Light

Reference and Sources:

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28488765/
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20818418/
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27638428/
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18462866/
5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22846093/
6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28855623/
7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24945469/
8. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0144861711010617?via%3Dihub
9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24857605/
10. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20456930/