Recent Research; Turmeric

Turmeric is a spice that contains curcumin, a compound with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Turmeric supplements may help with arthritis pain and inflammation. Here, we are going to review a few articles on this topic:

Vishnu Mittal and colleagues have published an article on herbal interventions in rheumatoid arthritis treatment. The article suggests turmeric may be helpful in managing Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms. The review highlights turmeric's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which might be crucial in alleviating Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms. Turmeric may work by modulating inflammatory pathways, potentially reducing inflammation in the joints – a hallmark of Rheumatoid Arthritis. While the evidence is promising, more rigorous clinical trials are needed to confirm how effective and safe turmeric is for Rheumatoid Arthritis. (1)

While, Carla Gasbarri and Guido Angelini focus more on the active ingredients of tumeric. They state that curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric and is often credited with its health benefits.However, turmeric also contains another natural compound called cyclocurcumin. Although they have the same chemical formula, they behave differently. Curcumin can change its structure slightly depending on the environment, while cyclocurcumin can change shape. While curcumin gets most of the attention for its potential health benefits, cyclocurcumin is also interesting to scientists because it may act as an antioxidant, fight enzymes, and even combat viruses. Early research suggests it might be useful for treating degenerative diseases and heart problems. However, despite its potential, cyclocurcumin's use in medicine is limited because it's difficult for the body to absorb. (2)

Tingting Deng and co-workers consider that "Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by synovial inflammation, cartilage destruction, pannus formation and bone erosion. Various immune cells, including macrophages, are involved in RA pathogenesis." They are looking at curcumin as a potential treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and damage to joints. Part of the problem is that immune system cells called macrophages become unbalanced. These macrophages can either be helpful (M2) or harmful (M1) in RA. Curcumin seems to work by tipping the balance towards the helpful M2 macrophages, which might reduce inflammation and joint damage in RA. However, more research is needed to fully understand how effective curcumin might be. (3)

REFERENCE

1. Vishnu Mittal et al, Nature's Pharmacy: Herbal Interventions in Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment: A Comprehensive Review, Curr Rheumatol Rev. 2024 Apr 25. doi: 10.2174/0115733971294467240326074155. 

2. Carla Gasbarri et al, Cyclocurcumin as Promising Bioactive Natural Compound: An Overview, Molecules. 2024 Mar 24;29(7):1451.

3. Tingting Deng et al, Immunomodulatory effects of curcumin on macrophage polarization in rheumatoid arthritis,Front Pharmacol. 2024 Feb 28:15:1369337. 

Review: Thunder God Vine

Thunder God Vine, also known as Tripterygium wilfordii, is a climbing vine native to Southeast China. Traditionally used in Chinese medicine, its leaves and root have been studied for various potential health benefits but also carry significant risks and side effects.

Health Benefits:

• Rheumatoid Arthritis: Some research suggests it may improve pain, swelling, and physical function in rheumatoid arthritis patients.  Celastrol and triptolide isolated from thunder god vine are believed to be effective against rheumatoid arthritis. Celastrol targets numerous signaling pathways involving NF‑κB, endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+‑ATPase, myeloid differentiation factor 2, toll‑like receptor 4, pro‑inflammatory chemokines, DNA damage, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. While triptolide, inhibits NF‑κB, the receptor activator of NF‑κB (RANK)/RANK ligand/osteoprotegerin signaling pathway, cyclooxygenase‑2, matrix metalloproteases and cytokines. (1) But evidence is limited and inconclusive.
• Other Conditions: Studies have explored its potential benefits for Crohn's disease, kidney problems, mouth sores, and eye issues in thyroid disease, but results are preliminary and require further investigation.

Side Effects:

• Serious Risks: Thunder God Vine can be extremely toxic if improperly prepared or used in high doses. Side effects include digestive problems, abnormal heart rates, high blood pressure, decreased blood cell production, kidney damage, bone mineral loss, infertility, menstrual cycle changes, rashes, diarrhea, headache, and hair loss. 
• Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Completely avoid due to birth defect risks.

Popularity in the US:

• Not Popular: Due to its safety concerns and lack of conclusive evidence for most claimed benefits, Thunder God Vine is not widely used or recommended in the US.
• Legal Status: The FDA hasn't approved it as a safe or effective medication.

Important Note:

• Consult a Doctor: Before considering any herbal supplement, including Thunder God Vine, consult a healthcare professional to discuss potential risks and interactions with other medications you might be taking.

Remember, prioritizing safety and evidence-based medicine is crucial when managing health concerns.

REFERENCE

1. Xingiang Song et al, Therapeutic targets of thunder god vine (Tripterygium wilfordii hook) in rheumatoid arthritis (Review), Mol Med Rep. 2022 Jun;21(6):2303-2310.

2. T Allard et al, Mechanisms of herb-induced nephrotoxicity, Curr Med Che. 2013;20(22):2812-9.

3. Heng Xu et al, Celastrol suppresses colorectal cancer via covalent targeting peroxiredoxin 1, Singnal Transduct Target Ther. 2023 Feb 3;8(1):51.

4. Haoran Zhang et al, Triptolide leads to hepatic intolerance to exogenous lipopolysaccharide and natural-killer-cell mediated hepatocellular damage by inhibiting MHC class I molecules. Phytomedicine, 2023 Jan:109:154621.

5. Kevin Liaw et al, Systemic dendrimer delivery of triptoide to tumor-associated macrophages improves anti-tumor efficacy and reduces systemic toxicity in glioblastomas, J Control Release, 2021 Jan 10:329:434-444.

6. Runping Liu et al, Toxicity of traditional Chinese medicine herbal and mineral products, Adv Pharmacol. 2020:87:301-346.