Combination of turmeric extract and turmeric essential oil reduced neurotoxicity in animal study

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A recent animal study¹ found a potential neuroprotective effect from a turmeric extract (BCM-95 from Arjuna Natural Pvt. Ltd.; Kerala, India) in combination with turmeric essential oil (Curcugreen from Arjuna). In the study, 25 mice were given either turmeric extract, turmeric extract with a turmeric essential oil (TE+EO) at doses of 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg, placebo (vehicle control), or nothing (positive control). Neurotoxicity was induced by injecting aluminum chloride, which impairs spatial learning and memory, and the effects of the interventions were assessed for 45 days.

Results showed that, compared to turmeric extract alone, free curcumin concentration in plasma were 30.1 and 54.2 times higher with 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg doses of TE+EO, respectively. Compared to turmeric extract alone, free curcumin concentration in the brain was 11.01 and 13.71 times higher with 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg doses of TE+EO, respectively. TE+EO also significantly reversed spatial learning and memory impairments by 28.6% (25 mg/kg) and 39.4% (50 mg/kg). In an elevated maze test, 44.8% (25 mg/kg) and 67.1% (50 mg/kg) improvements were observed for TE+EO. In addition to this, supplementation with the combination significantly reduced aluminum-induced lipid peroxidation, and improved levels of glutathione, acetylcholinesterase, and catalase. Researchers also observed that with TE+EO supplementation damage to hippocampal pyramidal cells was averted.

“Curcumin is known for its ability to bind to metals such as aluminum and thus could offer neuroprotection from the metal’s potentially toxic effects,” explains lead researcher David Banji, PhD, in a press release. “But poor absorption and low blood levels of free curcumin after oral intake pose a major limitation for delivering its full clinical benefits. Curcumin’s characteristic low solubility, rapid metabolism, and quick elimination hampers its absorption into the bloodstream nor readily penetrates the blood brain barrier. This is what spurred us to examine BCM-95 of Arjuna Natural where curcumin, the key turmeric extract is combined with the purified essential oil component of turmeric as a bioavailability enhancer.”

“Aluminium is unfortunately a prevalent toxin and contact with it is unavoidable in everyday life,” adds Benny Antony, PhD, joint managing director for Arjuna and inventor of BCM-95. Major sources of aluminum exposure are cookware, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products. “The challenge of maintaining brain health naturally via plant-derived supplements is that it has to be both practical and safe,” he continues. “We were encouraged by the immediate actionable results of this high bioavailability turmeric extract which is already widely commercially available as a leading bio-available extract.”

Reference

1. Banji D et al. “Neuroprotective effect of turmeric extract in combination with its essential oil and enhanced brain bioavailability in an animal model.” BioMed Research International, Published online ahead of print on January 27, 2021