Curcumin (technical grade)

Curcumin is the major yellow pigment in turmeric and curry and has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor activities.{1421,42430,1420,1419} It inhibits nitric oxide (NO) production (IC50 = 6 ?M) and reduces inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells.{1421} Curcumin inhibits release of histamine and the inflammatory cytokines TNF-a, IL-1B, IL-6, and IL-8 from HMC-1 mast cells.{42430} In vivo, curcumin decreases serum levels of histamine and TNF-a, inhibits histopathological changes of nasal mucosa, and decreases the number of sneezes and nasal rubbing in a mouse model of ovalbumin-induced rhinitis. Curcumin (100 or 200 mg/kg) prevents ovalbumin-induced accumulation of 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT), a marker of oxidative stress, in mouse heart. Topical administration of curcumin (1-10 ?mol) reduces the number of tumors induced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (TPA; Item No. 10008014) in mouse skin.{1420} Dietary administration of curcumin reduces the number of tongue neoplasms and preneoplastic lesions induced by 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4-NQO) in rats.{1419}