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Little. Yellow. Different.

The Indian spice turmeric could be more than just tasty

An old Indian folk song praises turmeric, the golden spice from the East, for its power to bring beauty, good health and good luck to those who use it.


But in Indian medical lore, the pungent, woody-tasting powder is more precious still.
Scientists are taking a closer look at this Asian wonder spice, teasing out active ingredients and testing its age-old medicinal uses in 21st century laboratories. The National Institutes of Health has funded at least eight studies investigating turmeric. The spice and chemical it contains --curcumin--are being probed for their potential to prevent and treat a broad range of diseases.
Researchers believe the curcumin it contains fights disease partly by shutting down a powerful protein that promotes an abnormal inflammatory response in the body. The spice also has potent antioxidant properties and may even lower cholesterol. Inflammation and oxidative damage are contributors to many diseases, such as Alzheimers, Parkinsons, and arthritis and various cancers, said Gregory Cole, a professor at UCLA who has conducted numberous studies on the spice.
Some clues as to turmerics clout come from observing pattern of illness among people.
For example, scientists have long noted that Indians have much lower rates of certain cancers that their American counterparts.
Turmeric is also being studied for its ability to help treat Alzheimers disease. The prevalence fo Alzheimers among adults in India aged 70 to 79 is among the worlds lowest. It is 4.4 times less than the rate in the U.S.
Experts caution that all these results are still preliminary. No one knows if turmeric will end up another herbal fad or make a lasting contribution to Western medicine.


By Sandy

文章取自 Express by Washington Post