Curcumin and the Blood Brain Barrier:
Neuroprotective effect of turmeric extract in combination with its essential oil and enhanced brain bioavailability in an animal model.
Banji D, Banji OJ, Srinivas K. BioMed Res Int. 2021; (January): 1-12
PURPOSE: The study evaluated the neuroprotective effect and pharmacokinetic profile of turmeric extract and their metabolites in the blood and brain in an aluminum-induced neurotoxic animal model.
METHODS: Swiss albino mice received turmeric extract (TE), TE essential oil combination (TE+EO) at doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg/day orally, vehicle (control), and a positive control group. Neurotoxicity was induced by injecting aluminum chloride (40 mg/kg/day, i.p.), and the effect of the intervention was studied for 45 days. The pharmacokinetic and behavioral biochemical markers of brain function and brain histopathological changes were evaluated.
RESULTS: The AUC 0-t showed a 30.1 and 54.2 times higher free curcumin concentration in plasma with 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg of TE+EO vs. TE, respectively. The concentration of free curcumin in the brain was 11.01 and 13.71-fold higher for 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg of TE+EO vs.TE, respectively. Aluminum impairs spatial learning and memory, which was significantly reversed with TE+EO by 28.6% (25 mg/kg) and 39.4% (50 mg/kg). In the elevated plus maze test, 44.8% (25 mg/kg) and 67.1% (50 mg/kg) improvements were observed. A significant reduction in aluminum-induced lipid peroxidation was observed. Also, the levels of glutathione, acetylcholinesterase, and catalase were improved with TE+EO. Damage to the hippocampal pyramidal cells was averted with TE+EO.
CONCLUSION: The neuroprotective and antioxidant response confirms the benefits of TE+EO against aluminum- induced neurotoxicity. The presence of free curcumin and its metabolites in the brain and plasma establishes its improved bioavailability and tissue distribution. Therefore, the benefits of TE+EO could be harnessed in neurodegenerative diseases.
Superior Prevention against Alzheimer’s, Depression and Other Brain Diseases
What makes this new study so exciting is that it shows blending curcumin with turmeric essential oil not only gets curcumin into the body allowing it to benefit nearly every organ of the body, it helps curcumin pass through the blood/brain barrier to extend its health benefits to brain tissue. This is a key difference, because not all curcumin has been proven to do this. This curcumin and turmeric essential oil combo reversed cognitive damage caused by aluminum, a serious brain toxin. This unique and proven combination also stays in the bloodstream longer, so it can protect and preserve brain cells better. In fact, compared with standard curcumin, the blend of curcumin and turmeric essential oil raised free curcumin levels in the brain almost 14 times higher!
Stops and Reverses Damage to the Brain
Aluminum crosses the blood-brain barrier, and so does curcumin blended with turmeric oil. That means this botanical gets to the source of the damage—and helps overcome it, and even reverse it! Aluminum easily crosses the blood brain barrier (your body’s natural defensive shield that protects your brain from harmful substances). Increased levels of aluminum in the brain are associated with diseases including Parkinson’s,
Alzheimer’s, and multiple sclerosis. You wouldn’t normally consider it as part of a meal, but did you know that we ingest or take in about 10 mg of aluminum every day? We get aluminum from cookware, cosmetics, beverage containers, lotions, some over the counter drugs, and buffered medications. That may not sound like much, but over time, this adds up. This study went on to look at the effects of curcumin with turmeric essential oil in protecting brain tissue from aluminum toxicity. The researchers found that in an animal model of aluminum toxicity, curcumin with turmeric essential oil reversed the negative effects of aluminum on brain function. The study also showed that this blend completely protected special brain cells involved in memory. These new findings reinforce why curcumin— blended with turmeric essential oil for boosted absorption and better blood retention—is truly the “all in one solution” to almost every health problem.
