Curcumin spices up OA treatment

[Guest guest]

Curcumin spices up OA treatment



Feb 8, 2006



Janis



Tel Aviv, Israel - Turmeric, a component of curry spice mixtures, has

long been used for anti-inflammatory treatment in traditional Chinese

and Ayurevedic medicine. The active ingredient in turmeric is

curcumin, and Dr Nadir Arber (Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv,

Israel) reports in the February 2006 issue of Rheumatology that

curcumin not only has anti-inflammatory properties but also

synergistically potentiates the beneficial effects of celecoxib

(Celebrex, Pfizer) [1].

" The effects of curcumin are due to inhibition of COX-2, resulting in

a 95% reduction in production of prostaglandins, but also to non-

COX-2 processes. The synergy with celecoxib in vitro was so striking

that we think adding curcumin might permit the use of much lower

doses of celecoxib, thereby reducing the risk of side effects such as

cardiovascular problems, " Arber told rheumawire. " Consequently, we

have begun a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of

celecoxib with and without curcumin in patients with knee

osteoarthritis [OA]. "

Curcumin inhibits COX-2 at the translational level and has been the

subject of considerable interest in cancer treatment and prevention.

Arber reasoned that combining curcumin with a COX-2 inhibitor with a

different mechanism of action might also be useful for treating joint

inflammation such as OA or rheumatoid arthritis (RA).



The synergy with celecoxib in vitro was so striking that we think

adding curcumin might permit the use of much lower doses of

celecoxib, thereby reducing the risk of side effects.





Arber used bits of human synovial tissue collected during total-knee-

replacement surgery to prepare cultures of OA synovial adherent

cells. These cells were then exposed to different concentrations of

celecoxib (0-40 mol/L) and curcumin (0-20 mol/L) and

combinations of the two. Apoptosis was measured with flow cytometry,

and COX-2 activity was measured as production of prostaglandin E2.

" A synergistic effect was observed in inhibition of cell growth when

the cells were exposed to various concentrations of celecoxib

combined with curcumin, " Arber writes. The inhibition of cell growth

was associated with increased apoptosis, and the synergy was mediated

" through a mechanism that involves inhibition of COX-2 activity. "

Arber hopes that this might mean that the combination will permit the

use of celecoxib at lower and safer concentrations. He and Dr Dan

Caspi (Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv, Israel) have begun

testing this possibility in a double-blind, placebo-controlled,

randomized crossover trial of patients with knee OA. Arber said that

10 of the anticipated 100 patients have already entered the study.

Patients will be randomized to four weeks of celecoxib (100 mg bid)

with either placebo or curcumin (1.5-2.0 g bid) and then will cross

over to another four weeks of celecoxib plus the opposite treatment.

Outcome measures are self-assessment of knee pain using 100-mm visual

analog scale (VAS), self-assessment of knee function using 100-mm

VAS, patient global assessment, physician global assessment, knee

swelling (measured as knee circumference at the mid-patellar region),

and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index

(WOMAC).

Although Arber's studies use pharmaceutical-grade curcumin obtained

from Merck, clinicians might also face questions from patients

interested in taking nonprescription curcumin dietary supplements or

just in eating more curry.

" I myself believe that this combination will work, but what I believe

does not matter. Only the data from a proper randomized trial matter.

So my advice is, wait for the data! " Arber said.

The effects of curcumin are only partly due to reductions in COX-2

activity. Curcumin affects numerous molecular targets, including

transcription factors such as NF-B, cell-cycle proteins such as

cyclin D1 and p21, and cytokines such as TNF, IL-1, and IL-6. It also

appears able to directly protect cartilage from inflammation-related

damage. Shakibaei et al found that curcumin protected cultured human

chondrocytes from IL-1- (IL-1b)-induced degradation by preventing

activation of matrix-degrading enzymes, preventing downregulation of

matrix production, and reducing chondrocyte apoptosis [2].







Sources



Lev-Ari S, Strier L, Kazanov D, et al. Curcumin synergistically

potentiates the growth-inhibitory and pro-apoptotic effects of

celecoxib in osteoarthritis synovial adherent cells. Rheumatology

2006; 4:171-177. 

Shakibaei M, Schulze-Tanzil G, T, et al. Curcumin protects human

chondrocytes from IL-1-beta-induced inhibition of collagen type II

and beta-1-integrin expression and activation of caspase-3: an

immunomorphological study. Ann Anat 2005; 187:487-497. 

http://www.jointandbone.org/viewArticle.do?primaryKey=643517

[Guest guest]

I work in an Chinese community, new immigrants and they have mentioned that to

me.

It's worth looking into it.

a <a54@...> wrote:

Curcumin spices up OA treatment



Feb 8, 2006



Janis



Tel Aviv, Israel - Turmeric, a component of curry spice mixtures, has

long been used for anti-inflammatory treatment in traditional Chinese

and Ayurevedic medicine. The active ingredient in turmeric is

curcumin, and Dr Nadir Arber (Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv,

Israel) reports in the February 2006 issue of Rheumatology that

curcumin not only has anti-inflammatory properties but also

synergistically potentiates the beneficial effects of celecoxib

(Celebrex, Pfizer) [1].

" The effects of curcumin are due to inhibition of COX-2, resulting in

a 95% reduction in production of prostaglandins, but also to non-

COX-2 processes. The synergy with celecoxib in vitro was so striking

that we think adding curcumin might permit the use of much lower

doses of celecoxib, thereby reducing the risk of side effects such as

cardiovascular problems, " Arber told rheumawire. " Consequently, we

have begun a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of

celecoxib with and without curcumin in patients with knee

osteoarthritis [OA]. "

Curcumin inhibits COX-2 at the translational level and has been the

subject of considerable interest in cancer treatment and prevention.

Arber reasoned that combining curcumin with a COX-2 inhibitor with a

different mechanism of action might also be useful for treating joint

inflammation such as OA or rheumatoid arthritis (RA).



The synergy with celecoxib in vitro was so striking that we think

adding curcumin might permit the use of much lower doses of

celecoxib, thereby reducing the risk of side effects.





Arber used bits of human synovial tissue collected during total-knee-

replacement surgery to prepare cultures of OA synovial adherent

cells. These cells were then exposed to different concentrations of

celecoxib (0-40 mol/L) and curcumin (0-20 mol/L) and

combinations of the two. Apoptosis was measured with flow cytometry,

and COX-2 activity was measured as production of prostaglandin E2.

" A synergistic effect was observed in inhibition of cell growth when

the cells were exposed to various concentrations of celecoxib

combined with curcumin, " Arber writes. The inhibition of cell growth

was associated with increased apoptosis, and the synergy was mediated

" through a mechanism that involves inhibition of COX-2 activity. "

Arber hopes that this might mean that the combination will permit the

use of celecoxib at lower and safer concentrations. He and Dr Dan

Caspi (Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv, Israel) have begun

testing this possibility in a double-blind, placebo-controlled,

randomized crossover trial of patients with knee OA. Arber said that

10 of the anticipated 100 patients have already entered the study.

Patients will be randomized to four weeks of celecoxib (100 mg bid)

with either placebo or curcumin (1.5-2.0 g bid) and then will cross

over to another four weeks of celecoxib plus the opposite treatment.

Outcome measures are self-assessment of knee pain using 100-mm visual

analog scale (VAS), self-assessment of knee function using 100-mm

VAS, patient global assessment, physician global assessment, knee

swelling (measured as knee circumference at the mid-patellar region),

and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index

(WOMAC).

Although Arber's studies use pharmaceutical-grade curcumin obtained

from Merck, clinicians might also face questions from patients

interested in taking nonprescription curcumin dietary supplements or

just in eating more curry.

" I myself believe that this combination will work, but what I believe

does not matter. Only the data from a proper randomized trial matter.

So my advice is, wait for the data! " Arber said.

The effects of curcumin are only partly due to reductions in COX-2

activity. Curcumin affects numerous molecular targets, including

transcription factors such as NF-B, cell-cycle proteins such as

cyclin D1 and p21, and cytokines such as TNF, IL-1, and IL-6. It also

appears able to directly protect cartilage from inflammation-related

damage. Shakibaei et al found that curcumin protected cultured human

chondrocytes from IL-1- (IL-1b)-induced degradation by preventing

activation of matrix-degrading enzymes, preventing downregulation of

matrix production, and reducing chondrocyte apoptosis [2].







Sources



Lev-Ari S, Strier L, Kazanov D, et al. Curcumin synergistically

potentiates the growth-inhibitory and pro-apoptotic effects of

celecoxib in osteoarthritis synovial adherent cells. Rheumatology

2006; 4:171-177. 

Shakibaei M, Schulze-Tanzil G, T, et al. Curcumin protects human

chondrocytes from IL-1-beta-induced inhibition of collagen type II

and beta-1-integrin expression and activation of caspase-3: an

immunomorphological study. Ann Anat 2005; 187:487-497. 

http://www.jointandbone.org/viewArticle.do?primaryKey=643517