Turmeric / Curcumin for the healthy liver and prevention of liver diseases - Dr. Nagabhushan Moolky
Abstract: The liver is an important organ like the heart, lungs, and kidneys. Ayurveda gives prime importance to the liver because it is actively involved in vital functions, digestion, and nourishment of other organs. Turmeric has been used for over 10,000 years (Saraswati Civilization) in India. Turmeric is a mild digestive, aromatic, stimulant, and carminative. Turmeric decreases Kapha, balances tridosha, and is used to remove mucus in the throat, watery discharges like leucorrhea, and any pus in the eyes, ears, or wounds and used for wound healing. Turmeric has been used for conditions such as liver obstruction and jaundice. Roasted turmeric has been used as an ingredient in a preparation used for dysentery. Boiled dried rhizome water decoctions have been taken orally in Ayurvedic medicine to reduce inflammation. Turmeric is also regarded as a Rasayana. Turmeric is an important major spice used around the world as a common medicine and in food preparation. The yellow coloring active compound in turmeric is curcumins (2-5%), which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. 1n 1984, Dr. Nagabhushan Moolky for the first time showed that turmeric (Curcumins) has antigenotoxic and cancer-preventing properties. Curcumins inhibit multi-stages of cancer formation, Initiation (DNA damage/mutation) promotion (enhancing the DNA damage), progression (cancer formation), and transformation (malignant tumors). In 1987, Dr. Nagabhushan has shown that ingestion of 1g/turmeric decreases urinary excretion of mutagens in cigarette and bidi smokers. These findings are also important in unhealthy liver-induced skin diseases, liver cancer, and drug metabolism. Earlier, shown that turmeric and curcumins inhibit aflatoxin B-induced mutagenicity/carcinogenicity, a natural food contaminant, that causes liver injury and cancer. Several preclinical and clinical scientific studies have shown the beneficial effects of turmeric/curcumins in liver health and diseases. It prevents oxidative damage, liver injury by xenobiotics, chemotherapeutic drugs, excessive alcohol consumption-induced liver injury, fatty liver, nonalcoholic fatty liver, hepatitis virus A, C - induced damage, cirrhosis & fibrosis, antivirus, and aflatoxin-induced liver cancer. COVID19 infection results in multiorgan failure, including hepatic damage. Hyper coagulation of blood, change in glucose metabolism, and liver fibrosis. Turmeric/curcumins are hepatoprotective, prevent hepatic damage, anti-thrombotic (Reduces clotting of blood), hypoglycemic, and prevents liver fibrosis. Recent clinical trials show that aspirin (75-100mg/day) reduces clotting and reduces death in COVID19 patients. Long-term use of aspirin causes ulcers and bleeding, whereas curcumins are safer to use. Dr. Nagabhushan for the first time (1997) has shown that curcumin improved ex-vivo hypothermic preservation of the liver, which may be useful for human tissue/solid organ transplantation. Because of immunosuppression, in liver transplant patients, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) becomes active and induces uncontrolled proliferation of B- cells. This leads to the development of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which is detrimental to transplanted organs and patients. Curcumin inhibits EBV-induced, cyclosporine-A (CylA) promoted human B-cell proliferation and malignant transformation. Curcumin also inhibits CylA resistant activation of T lymphocyte activation and proliferation of human lymphocytes. Another important aspect of Curcumin is it reduces graft vs host disease.