Aromatic-turmerone induces neural stem cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo

The Golden Spice for Life: Turmeric with the Pharmacological Benefits of Curcuminoids Components, Including Curcumin, Bisdemethoxycurcumin, and Demethoxycurcumins

BACKGROUND

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), belonging to the Zingiberaceae family, is a perennial rhizomatous plant of tropical and subtropical regions. The three major chemical components responsible for the biological activities of turmeric are curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin.

METHODS

The literature search included review articles, analytical studies, randomized control experiments, and observations, which have been gathered from various sources, such as Scopus, Google Scholar, PubMed, and ScienceDirect. A review of the literature was carried out using the keywords: turmeric, traditional Chinese medicine, traditional Iranian medicine, traditional Indian medicine, curcumin, curcuminoids, pharmaceutical benefits, turmerone, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin. The main components of the rhizome of the leaf are α-turmerone, β-turmerone, and arturmerone.

RESULTS

The notable health benefits of turmeric are antioxidant activity, gastrointestinal effects, anticancer effects, cardiovascular and antidiabetic effects, antimicrobial activity, photoprotector activity, hepatoprotective and renoprotective effects, and appropriate for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and inflammatory and edematic disorders.

DISCUSSION

Curcuminoids are phenolic compounds usually used as pigment spices with many health benefits, such as antiviral, antitumour, anti-HIV, anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, anticancer, and antifungal effects. Curcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin, and demethoxycurcumin are the major active and stable bioactive constituents of curcuminoids. Curcumin, which is a hydroponic polyphenol, and the main coloring agent in the rhizomes of turmeric, has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer, and anticarcinogenic activities, as well as beneficial effects for infectious diseases and Alzheimer's disease. Bisdemethoxycurcumin possesses antioxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-metastasis activities. Demethoxycurcumin, which is another major component, has anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, and anti-cancer activities and is the appropriate candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

CONCLUSION

The goal of this review is to highlight the health benefits of turmeric in both traditional and modern pharmaceutical sciences by considering the important roles of curcuminoids and other major chemical constituents of turmeric.

Brain Targeted Curcumin Loaded Turmeric Oil Microemulsion Protects Against Trimethyltin Induced Neurodegeneration in Adult Zebrafish: A Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Insight

PURPOSE

Aromatic turmerone, a major constituent of turmeric oil, has been recently reported for proliferation of neural stem cell showing great potential for effective treatment in neurodegenerative disorders. However, its effect as oral brain targeted formulation for neuroprotection has not yet reported. The objective of the study was to investigate the pharmacokinetic of curcumin loaded turmeric oil microemulsion for brain targeting and probing the protective effect against trimethyltin induced neurodegeneration in adult zebrafish.

METHODS

Initially, in vivo plasma and brain pharmacokinetics was performed to determine improvement in relative bioavailability in rats followed by biodistribution and histopathological evaluation. Furthermore, the neuroprotective effect of the formulation was assessed in trimethyltin induced neurodegeneration model using adult zebrafish by behavioral analysis and biochemical analysis.

RESULTS

The in vivo plasma and brain pharmacokinetics showed 2-fold and 1.87-fold improvement respectively. Biodistribution study revealed significantly lower concentration in organs other than brain. Furthermore, curcumin microemulsion exhibited improved spatial memory by remembering the training and made correct choices after curcumin microemulsion treatment than other treatment groups. Histopathological evaluation confirmed neuroprotective effect on zebrafish brains. The biochemical analysis revealed reduced oxidative stress in curcumin microemulsion treated group.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall results showed a great potential of curcumin microemulsion for brain targeting in the effective treatment of neurological ailments.

What can traditional Chinese medicine do for adult neurogenesis?

Adult neurogenesis plays a crucial role in cognitive function and mood regulation, while aberrant adult neurogenesis contributes to various neurological and psychiatric diseases. With a better understanding of the significance of adult neurogenesis, the demand for improving adult neurogenesis is increasing. More and more research has shown that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), including TCM prescriptions (TCMPs), Chinese herbal medicine, and bioactive components, has unique advantages in treating neurological and psychiatric diseases by regulating adult neurogenesis at various stages, including proliferation, differentiation, and maturation. In this review, we summarize the progress of TCM in improving adult neurogenesis and the key possible mechanisms by which TCM may benefit it. Finally, we suggest the possible strategies of TCM to improve adult neurogenesis in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.

Inhaled turmerones can be incorporated in the organs via pathways different from oral administration and can affect weight-gain of mice

Turmerones (α-turmerone, β-turmerone, and ar-turmerone) are the major volatile compounds in turmeric (Curcuma longa), a perennial herb of the ginger family. We previously reported that inhaled volatile turmerones could be transferred in the blood and organs. However, the difference between the two pathways, oral administration and inhalation, and the effect of inhaled turmerones on biological activities remain unknown. In this study, we compared the distribution patterns of turmerones after oral administration and inhalation. The relative levels (concentrations of turmerones in each organ/serum) in the lung, olfactory bulb, brain, heart, kidney, and epididymal fat in the inhalation group tended to be, or are significantly, higher than in the oral administration group. The relative levels of brown adipose tissue in the inhalation group were lower than in the oral administration group. Long-term (50 days) inhalation to volatile turmerones suppressed weight gain and hypertrophy of adipocytes in the epididymal fat of mice fed a high-fat diet. These results suggest that inhaled turmerones can be incorporated into the organs of mice via different pathway from as to those from oral administration and can affect the biological function of the organs under certain conditions.

Coronarin D, a Metabolite from the Wild Turmeric, Curcuma aromatica, Promotes the Differentiation of Neural Stem Cells into Astrocytes

Plants in the genus Curcuma have been widely used as traditional medicines in Asian countries. These plants contain bioactive compounds with neuroprotective properties or activities that increase neural stem cells (NSCs) and neurons. However, bioactive components in Curcuma that promote the differentiation of NSCs into astrocytes have not yet been reported. Here, the effects of Curcuma extracts on the in vitro differentiation of embryonic stem-cell-derived NSCs were evaluated. The extract of the wild turmeric, Curcuma aromatica, strongly promoted the differentiation of NSCs into astrocytes. Bioassay-guided isolation yielded coronarins C (1) and D (2), as well as (E)-labda-8(17),12-diene-15,16-dial (3) as the bioactive compounds. Coronarin D (2) markedly promoted the differentiation of NSCs into astrocytes up to approximately 4 times (3.64 ± 0.48) and increased the expression level of GFAP at the mRNA and protein level, while compounds 1 and 3 exhibited only weak effects, suggesting that the 15-hydroxy-Δ¹²-γ-lactone moiety is important for bioactivity. Moreover, compound 2 increased the number of pSTAT3-positive cells, suggesting that compound 2 promoted astrocytic differentiation through JAK/STAT signaling pathway.

Impacts of Commonly Used Edible Plants on the Modulation of Platelet Function

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a primary cause of deaths worldwide. Thrombotic diseases, specifically stroke and coronary heart diseases, account for around 85% of CVDs-induced deaths. Platelets (small circulating blood cells) are responsible for the prevention of excessive bleeding upon vascular injury, through blood clotting (haemostasis). However, unnecessary activation of platelets under pathological conditions, such as upon the rupture of atherosclerotic plaques, results in thrombus formation (thrombosis), which can cause life threatening conditions such as stroke or heart attack. Therefore, antiplatelet medications are usually prescribed for people who are at a high risk of thrombotic diseases. The currently used antiplatelet drugs are associated with major side effects such as excessive bleeding, and some patients are resistant to these drugs. Therefore, numerous studies have been conducted to develop new antiplatelet agents and notably, to establish the relationship between edible plants, specifically fruits, vegetables and spices, and cardiovascular health. Indeed, healthy and balanced diets have proven to be effective for the prevention of CVDs in diverse settings. A high intake of fruits and vegetables in regular diet is associated with lower risks for stroke and coronary heart diseases because of their plethora of phytochemical constituents. In this review, we discuss the impacts of commonly used selected edible plants (specifically vegetables, fruits and spices) and/or their isolated compounds on the modulation of platelet function, haemostasis and thrombosis.

Hormesis and embryonic stem cells

This paper provides an identification and detailed assessment of hormetic dose responses of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) with particular emphasis on cell renewal (proliferation) and differentiation, underlying mechanistic foundations and potential therapeutic implications. Hormetic dose responses were commonly reported, being induced by a broad range of chemicals, including pharmaceuticals (e.g., atorvastatin, isoproterenol, lithium, nicotine, ouabain), dietary supplements (e.g., curcumin, multiple ginsenosides, resveratrol), endogenous agents (e.g., estrogen, hydrogen peroxide, melatonin), and physical stressor agents (e.g., hypoxia, ionizing radiation). ESC-hormetic dose responses are similar for other stem cell types (e.g., adipose-derived stem cells, apical papilla, bone marrow stem cells, dental pulp stem cells, endothelial stem cells, muscle stem cells, periodontal ligament stem cells, neural stem cells), indicating a high degree of generality for the hormetic-stem cells response. The widespread occurrence of hormetic dose responses shown by ESCs and other stem cells suggests that the hormetic dose response may represent a fundamental and highly conserved evolutionary strategy.

GC-MS Analysis of Bioactive Compounds in Ethanolic Leaf Extract of Hellenia speciosa (J.Koenig) S.R. Dutta

Hellenia speciosa (J.Koenig) S.R. Dutta is a plant species belonging to the family Costaceae. It is widely distributed in China, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, tropical, and subtropical Asia. In Ayurveda, the rhizome of this plant has been extensively used to treat fever, rash, asthma, bronchitis, and intestinal worms. The objective of the present study was to investigate the phytochemical constituents of the leaf of Hellenia speciosa using gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy analysis (GC-MS). The GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of 17 phytochemical components in the ethanolic leaf extract of Hellenia speciosa. The prevailing bioactive compounds present in Hellenia speciosa were thymol (RT-10.019; 3.59%), caryophyllene (RT-11.854; 0.62%), caryophyllene oxide (RT-13.919; 1.34%), artumerone (RT-14.795; 1.35%), hexadecanoic acid methyl ester (RT-17.536; 2.77%), 9,12-octadecanoic acid methyl ester (RT-19.163; 1.35%), squalene (RT-24.980; 1.19%), piperine (RT-25.745; 3.11%), beta tocopherol (RT-26.681; 2.88%), vitamin E (RT-27.290; 2.64%), progesterone (RT-29.608; 3.18%), caparratriene (RT-29.861; 9.72%), and testosterone (RT-30.73; 5.81%). The compounds were identified by comparing their retention time and peak area with that of the literature and by interpretation of mass spectra. The results and findings of the present study suggest that the plant leaf can be used as a valuable source in the field of herbal drug discovery. The presence of bioactive compounds justifies the use of plant leaves for treating various diseases with fewer side effects and recommended the plant of pharmaceutical importance. However, further studies are needed to undertake its bioactivity and toxicity profile.

Aromatic-Turmerone Analogs Protect Dopaminergic Neurons in Midbrain Slice Cultures through Their Neuroprotective Activities

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. The inflammatory activation of microglia participates in dopaminergic neurodegeneration in PD. Therefore, chemicals that inhibit microglial activation are considered to have therapeutic potential for PD. Aromatic (ar)-turmerone is a main component of turmeric oil extracted from Curcuma longa and has anti-inflammatory activity in cultured microglia. The aims of the present study are (1) to investigate whether naturally occurring S-enantiomer of ar-turmerone (S-Tur) protects dopaminergic neurons in midbrain slice cultures and (2) to examine ar-turmerone analogs that have higher activities than S-Tur in inhibiting microglial activation and protecting dopaminergic neurons. R-enantiomer (R-Tur) and two analogs showed slightly higher anti-inflammatory effects in microglial BV2 cells. S- and R-Tur and these two analogs reversed dopaminergic neurodegeneration triggered by microglial activation in midbrain slice cultures. Unexpectedly, this neuroprotection was independent of the inhibition of microglial activation. Additionally, two analogs more potently inhibited dopaminergic neurodegeneration triggered by a neurotoxin, 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium, than S-Tur. Taken together, we identified two ar-turmerone analogs that directly and potently protected dopaminergic neurons. An investigation using dopaminergic neuronal precursor cells suggested the possible involvement of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 in this neuroprotection.

Detection of Biological Activity of Curcuma longa Methanol Extract and Its Antibacterial effect on Staphylococcus aureus

Plants are known to possess enormous profound benefits, which if well incorporated in daily living have the potential to influence our health in ways unexpected. Significant progress has been made concerning the anti-oxidative and anti-cancerous effect of bioactive components in food products, worthy of note in the curcuminoids derived from turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizomes. Therefore, to this end, this research aims to describe succinctly the phytocomponents, antioxidant activity and anti-microbial activity of turmeric methanol extract. The zones of inhibition were measured after plating on a Mueller Hinton agar plate and compared to the standards penicillin G and chloramphenicol. Chloramphenicol used as a positive control was found to be most effective on Staphylococcus aureus while Curcuma longa methanol extract and penicillin G were found to have the same microbial inhibition due to the negative control. Compared to the IC50 values of Ascorbic acid which was 5 mg/ ml, Curcuma longa methanol extract had a lower IC50 value is 3.2 mg/ml which according to previous literature is a good one given that lower IC50 values indicate great antioxidant activity. It was gathered by the observation that the qualitative extraction of Curcuma longa using methanol shows the presence of varying chemical components such as AR-tumerone, arachinsaeure, alpha-tumerone amongst others. Research data suggest that ar-turmerone has the potential to promote the positive and negative proliferation of tumor cell lines. As a result, Curcuma longa has high potential to be developed into an antibiotic against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and other clinically important bacterial strains in future.

Antiviral screening on Alpinia eremochlamys, Etlingera flexuosa, and Etlingera acanthoides extracts against HIV-infected MT-4 cells

Alpinia eremochlamys K. Schum, Etlingera flexuosa A.D. Poulsen, and Etlingera acanthoides A.D. Poulsen are endemic Zingiberaceae plants from Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. This study is the first report on screening the potential antiviral activity of ethanol extracts of the leaves, pseudostems, and rhizomes parts on HIV-infected MT-4 cells and identifying chemical constituents by GC-MS. The plants were extracted by the maceration method using 96% ethanol as a solvent. The antiviral activity was measured using Viral-ToxGlo colorimetric method and using the extracts at concentrations ranging from 7.8 to 1000 μg/mL. GC-MS was used to identify the secondary metabolites of potential extracts. The results showed that ethanol extract of E. acanthoides rhizome was the most potent antiviral activity (IC₅₀ of 1.74 ± 2.46 μg/mL) and less toxic on lymphocyte (MT-4) cells (CC₅₀ of 204.90 ± 106.35 μg/mL), affording the highest value of selectivity index (SI) of 117.76. A. eremochlamys rhizomes also showed promising antiviral activity with IC₅₀ of 64.18 ± 2.58 μg/mL and no toxicity on MT-4 cells affording a high SI value 19.05. Preliminary GC-MS identification showed the presence of terpenoids and fatty acids as major compounds. Zerumbone, ar-turmerone, caryophyllene, and caryophyllene oxide were also detected. Chemical constituents identified by GC-MS might be responsible for the antiviral activity of extracts, suggesting further isolation and antiviral testing of the purified compounds.

Curcuma longa L. Rhizome Essential Oil from Extraction to Its Agri-Food Applications. A Review

Curcuma longa L. rhizome essential oil is a valuable product in pharmaceutical industry due to its wide beneficial health effects. Novel applications in the agri-food industry where more sustainable extraction processes are required currently and safer substances are claimed for the consumer are being investigated. This review provides information regarding the conventional and recent extraction methods of C. longa rhizome oil, their characteristics and suitability to be applied at the industrial scale. In addition, variations in the chemical composition of C. longa rhizome and leaf essential oils regarding intrinsic and extrinsic factors and extraction methods are also analysed in order to select the most proper to obtain the most efficient activity. Finally, the potential applications of C. longa rhizome oil in the agri-food industry, such as antimicrobial, weedicide and a food preservative agent, are included. Regarding the data, C. longa rhizome essential oil may play a special role in the agri-food industry; however, further research to determine the application threshold so as not to damage crops or affect the organoleptic properties of food products, as well as efficient encapsulation techniques, are necessary for its implementation in global agriculture.

Preparation, optimization and preliminary pharmacokinetic study of curcumin encapsulated turmeric oil microemulsion in zebra fish

The present investigation aimed to develop curcumin loaded turmeric oil microemulsion for brain targeting. An effort has been made to investigate the role of functional components in developing brain targeted formulation which could enhance the bioavailability and uptake of drug in the brain upon oral administration. Preliminary studies like solubility study, emulsification study and construction of the pseudo ternary phase diagram were performed for screening components. The formulation was optimized by using extreme vertices mixture design. The optimized formulation was characterized for appearance, stability to centrifugation, dilution potential, globule size, zeta potential and drug content. Furthermore, ex-vivo permeation in chicken gut sac non everted technique and pharmacokinetic study in adult zebra fishes were carried out. The optimized formulation was found to clear, yellow-colored with the absence of phase separation and precipitation denoted the stability of formulation to centrifugation and dilution. The mean globule size, polydispersity index, zeta potential and drug content was observed as 29.13± 0.12 nm, 0.23 ± 0.01,-12.33 ± 1.37 mV and 99.10±3.91 %, respectively. Ex vivo permeation study revealed 2.41 fold enhancement in the steady-state flux when compared to curcumin solution. Furthermore, optimized formulation showed shorter T_max (5 min) and higher AUC_(0-∞) (7.93 μg/brain*min) compared to the curcumin solution which showed similar T_max and AUC_(0-∞) of 2.78 μg/brain*min after oral administration to zebra fishes revealing 3.97 fold enhancement. The results revealed enhanced ex vivo oral absorption and enhanced in vivo brain pharmacokinetics of curcumin via functional microemulsion in the zebra fish model.

Neuroprotective effects of aromatic turmerone on activity deprivation-induced apoptosis in cerebellar granule neurons

Ar-turmerone, which is a major bioactive component found in the essential oil derived from Curcuma longa, has been reported to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in cancer cell lines. Recently, ar-turmerone has been reported to increase the proliferation of neuronal stem cells, in contrast to its actions in cancer cells. These observations raise the possibility that ar-turmerone serves specific functions in neuronal cell lineages. However, the effects of ar-turmerone on postmitotic neurons remain elusive. In the present study, we investigated the neuroprotective functions of ar-turmerone in primary cerebellar granule neuronal cultures. We found that ar-turmerone increased the survival of neurons following activity deprivation. Consistently, the induction of cleaved caspase-3, a hallmark of apoptosis, was prevented by ar-turmerone, although neither the level of reactive oxygen species nor the mitochondrial membrane potential was affected. This study reports a neuroprotective function for ar-turmerone, providing new insights into the potential therapeutic applications of ar-turmerone for neurological disorders.

Bisacurone suppresses hepatic lipid accumulation through inhibiting lipogenesis and promoting lipolysis

Turmeric and its components have various health beneficial functions. However, little is known about function of bisacurone, which is one of the sesquiterpenes in turmeric, at the compound level. In this study, we investigated the preventive effect of bisacurone on hepatic lipid accumulation and its mechanism in HepG2 cells and ICR mice. In HepG2 cells, bisacurone significantly inhibited fatty acid-induced intracellular lipid accumulation in a dose-dependent manner. Bisacurone at 10 µM increased protein expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α and carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1A accompanied by phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase. In the liver of ICR mice, bisacurone decreased total lipids, triglyceride, and cholesterol contents. Bisacurone at 10 mg/kg body weight increased phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase, and its downstream acetyl-CoA carboxylase as a rate-limiting enzyme for lipogenesis, while it decreased the nuclear translocation level of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 and carbohydrate-responsive element-binding protein as the major transcription factors for lipogenesis. On the other hand, bisacurone promoted lipolysis by up-expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α and carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1A. Thus, bisacurone might be a valuable food factor for preventing hepatic lipid accumulation by inhibiting lipogenesis and promoting lipolysis through phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase.

Preclinical Evidence of Curcuma longa and Its Noncurcuminoid Constituents against Hepatobiliary Diseases: A Review

Hepatobiliary disease currently serves as an important public health issue due to the fact that it is one of the major causes of death among economically active individuals and can easily progress to chronic diseases. Despite the development of vaccines and numerous drugs, a definite treatment remains lacking owing to different stages of the disease itself, its intricate pathogenesis, an effect uncertainty for long-term use, resistance, and side effects. Curcuma longa (C. longa), which belongs to the family Zingiberaceae and the genus Curcuma, has long been used not only as spice for curry or dye but also as a constituent of herbal formula for the treatment of different diseases due to its bioactive activities. Recently, many studies on the experimental results of C. longa have been published relative to hepatobiliary diseases such as fatty liver, hepatitis, cirrhosis, and tumors. Therefore, in this review, we aimed to summarize the pharmacological effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of C. longa and its four compounds, β-elemene, germacrone, ar-turmerone, and bisacurone, against hepatobiliary diseases. C. longa exhibited antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antisteatotic, anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic, antitumor, and cholagogic effects by regulating apoptosis, CYP2E1, Nrf, lipid metabolism-related factors, TGF-β, NF-κB, CYP7A1, and so on. In particular, β-elemene could be an attractive compound owing to its remarkable hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic, and antitumor activities. Altogether, the present review provides a preclinical basis for the efficacy of C. longa as an effective therapeutic agent for the prevention and treatment of hepatobiliary diseases, despite the need for further studies to establish the extraction conditions and separation of active constituents with high bioavailability, and warrants further evaluation in clinical trials.

Developmental stages of zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos and toxicological studies using foldscope microscope

Zebrafish (Danio rerio), is a well-established vertebrate animal model widely used in developmental biology and toxicological research. In the present study, foldscope is used as an innovative tool to study the developmental stages and toxicological analysis of the zebrafish embryos. Briefly, the developmental stages, such as zygote, cleavage, blastula, gastrula, segmentation, and pharyngula formation are observed and documented using simple foldscope. Toxicological parameters upon exposure to different concentration of ethanol extract of Curcuma longa and its lead compound, ar-turmerone along with rhodamine B (bio-coupler) on zebrafish embryos are analyzed upto 72 hr using foldscopes in live condition. The lethal endpoints, such as coagulation, lack of somite formation, non-detachment of tail, and lack of heartbeat are clearly monitored and documented using foldscope. Bio-evaluation of test compounds with the aid of foldscope confirms that the toxicity is directly proportional to the concentration. Our results conclude that, ethanol extract of C. longa, ar-turmerone and rhodamine B exposed embryos remains healthy up to 96, 48, and 24 µg concentrations, respectively. Embryos exposed to higher concentrations become coagulated, however normal physiological active movement of tail lashing and heartbeat are evident in lower concentration exposed embryos. Except coagulation, no other abnormalities are observed and interestingly, the hatching ability is not delayed, when compared with the control embryos. It is confirmed that the test compounds are not highly toxic to zebrafish embryos. Hence it can be used for further analysis, especially for studying the neural-regeneration and its neuronal development in zebrafish embryos.

Curcumin's Nanomedicine Formulations for Therapeutic Application in Neurological Diseases

The brain is the body's control center, so when a disease affects it, the outcomes are devastating. Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis are brain diseases that cause a large number of human deaths worldwide. Curcumin has demonstrated beneficial effects on brain health through several mechanisms such as antioxidant, amyloid β-binding, anti-inflammatory, tau inhibition, metal chelation, neurogenesis activity, and synaptogenesis promotion. The therapeutic limitation of curcumin is its bioavailability, and to address this problem, new nanoformulations are being developed. The present review aims to summarize the general bioactivity of curcumin in neurological disorders, how functional molecules are extracted, and the different types of nanoformulations available.

Lewis Base-Catalyzed Enantioselective Conjugate Reduction of β,β-Disubstituted α,β-Unsaturated Ketones with Trichlorosilane: E/Z-Isomerization, Regioselectivity, and Synthetic Applications

The chiral bisphosphine dioxide-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate reduction of acyclic β,β-disubstituted α,β-unsaturated ketones with trichlorosilane affords saturated ketones having a stereogenic carbon center at the carbonyl β-position with high enantioselectivities. Because the E/Z-isomerizations of enone substrates occur concomitantly, reduction products with the same absolute configurations are obtained from either (E)- or (Z)-enones. Conjugate reduction is accelerated in the presence of an electron-rich aryl group at the β-position of the enone owing to its carbocation-stabilizing ability. Computational studies were also conducted in order to elucidate the origin of the observed enantioselectivity. The regio- and enantioselective reductions of dienones were realized and applied to the syntheses of ar-turmerone, turmeronol A, mutisianthol, and jungianol, which are optically active sesquiterpenes.

Solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis of Zingiber officinale and Curcuma longa

SPME analysis of Zingiber officinale Roscoe and Curcuma longa L. were performed by using a DVB/CARB/PDMS fiber. The SPME analysis of Zingiber officinale showed that the main components found were camphene (7.27%), geranial (8.37%), α-zingiberene (14.50%), α-farnesene (9.14%), β-bisabolene (6.52%), and β-sesquiphellandrene (9.92%). The SPME analysis of Curcuma longa showed that main components were p-cymene (12.96%) and ar-turmerone (12.08%). Other components were β-phellandrene (7.86%), terpinolene (6.97%), ar-curcumene (8.53%), α-zingiberene (8.46%), and β-sesquiphellandrene (7.37%).

Ginger and Turmeric Essential Oils for Weed Control and Food Crop Protection

Ginger and turmeric are two food ingredients that are in high demand due to their flavor and positive effects on health. The biological properties of these spices are closely related to the aromatic compounds they contain. The chemical compositions of their essential oils and their in vitro phytotoxic activity against weeds (Portulaca oleracea, Lolium multiflorum, Echinochloa crus-galli, Cortaderia selloana, and Nicotiana glauca) and food crops (tomato, cucumber, and rice) were studied. Forty-one compounds, accounting for a relative peak area of 87.7% and 94.6% of turmeric and ginger essential oils, respectively, were identified by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry analysis. Ginger essential oil with α-zingiberene (24.9 ± 0.8%), β-sesquiphelladrene (11.7 ± 0.3%), ar-curcumene (10.7 ± 0.2%), and β-bisabolene (10.5 ± 0.3%) as the main compounds significantly inhibited the seed germination of P. oleracea, L. multiflorum, and C. selloana at the highest dose (1 µL/mL) assayed, as well as the hypocotyl and radicle growth of the weeds. Turmeric essential oil with ar-turmerone (38.7 ± 0.8%), β-turmerone (18.6 ± 0.6%), and α-turmerone (14.2 ± 0.9%) as principal components significantly inhibited the seed germination of C. selloana and hypocotyl and radicle growth of weeds (the latter in particular) at the highest dose, whereas it did not affect either the seed germination or seedling growth of the food crops. Turmeric essential oil can be an effective post-emergent bioherbicide against the tested weeds without phytotoxicity to crops.

Performance and blood biochemistry profile of broiler chickens fed dietary turmeric (Curcuma longa) powder and cayenne pepper (Capsicum frutescens) powders as antioxidants

A 56-day experimental trial was conducted to investigate the performance and blood biochemistry profile of broiler chickens fed dietary turmeric (Curcuma longa) powder (t) and cayenne pepper (Capsicum frutescens) powder (c) as antioxidants. Two hundred and forty three (two-week old) broiler chicks were randomly allotted into nine treatment groups consisting of 27 selected chicks and three replicates of nine birds each. Three levels of t - (0, 200 and 400 g/ 100 kg basal diet) and three levels of c - (0, 100 and 200 g/ 100 kg basal diet) were used to formulate nine dietary treatments (basal diet (B) inclusive) and fed to each groupin two phases, starter (3-4 weeks) and finisher (5-8 weeks) phases in a randomized design. Feed intake and weight gain were highest (p < 0.05) in chicks fed B + 100c diet at the starter phase, while feed conversion ratio was best (p < 0.05) in chickens fed B + 400t + 200c diet at finisher phase. All chickens fed dietary additives had significantly (p < 0.05) decreased serum alanine aminotransferase and low density lipoproteins but increased high density lipoproteins in the starter phase. The hematological count determined indicate poor (p < 0.05) profile in groups fed B + 200c diet. Feeding broiler chicks dietary B + 400t + 200c was recommended for optimal growth performance. However, indices measured in the finisher phase allude that the best (p < 0.05) lipid profile were for chickens allotted B + 400t and B + 200t + 100c diets, while chicks fed B + 200t + 100c diet had overall a better serum count in the finisher phase.

Osteopontin Attenuates Secondary Neurodegeneration in the Thalamus after Experimental Stroke

Cortical cerebral ischemia elicits neuroinflammation as well as secondary neuronal degeneration in remote areas. Locally distinct and specific secondary neurodegeneration affecting thalamic nuclei connected to cortical areas highlights such processes. Osteopontin (OPN) is a cytokine-like glycoprotein that is excreted in high amounts after cerebral ischemia and exerts various immunomodulatory functions. We here examined putative protective effects of OPN in secondary thalamic degeneration. We subjected male Wistar rats to photothrombosis and subsequently injected OPN or placebo intracerebroventricularly. Immunohistochemical and fluorescence staining was used to detect the extent of neuronal degeneration and microglia activation. Ex vivo autoradiography with radiotracers available for human in vivo PET studies, i.e., CIS-4-[¹⁸F]Fluor-D-Proline (D-cis-[¹⁸F]FPRO), and [6-³H]thymidine ([³H]thymidine), confirmed degeneration and proliferation, respectively. We found secondary neurodegeneration in the thalamus characterized by microglial activation and neuronal loss. Neuronal loss was restricted to areas of microglial infiltration. Treatment with OPN significantly decreased neurodegeneration, inflammation and microglial proliferation. Microglia displayed morphological signs of activation without expressing markers of M1 or M2 polarization. D-CIS-[¹⁸F]FPRO-uptake mirrored attenuated degeneration in OPN-treated animals. Notably, [³H]thymidine and BrdU-staining revealed increased stem cell proliferation after treatment with OPN. The data suggest that OPN is able to ameliorate secondary neurodegeneration in thalamic nuclei. These effects can be visualized by radiotracers D-CIS-[¹⁸F]FPRO and [³H]thymidine, opening new vistas for translational studies. Graphical Abstract Intracerebroventricular injection of osteopontin attenuates thalamic degeneration after cortical ischemia (pink area). Disruption of thalamocortical connections (blue) and degeneration of thalamic nuclei (encircled) leads to microglia activation. Osteopontin protects from both neurodegeneration and microglia activation as assessed by histological analysis and autoradiograpic studies.

Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Essential Oils of Curcuma Species

Members of the genus Curcuma L. have been used in traditional medicine for centuries for treating gastrointestinal disorders, pain, inflammatory conditions, wounds, and for cancer prevention and antiaging, among others. Many of the biological activities of Curcuma species can be attributed to nonvolatile curcuminoids, but these plants also produce volatile chemicals. Essential oils, in general, have shown numerous beneficial effects for health maintenance and treatment of diseases. Essential oils from Curcuma spp., particularly C. longa, have demonstrated various health-related biological activities and several essential oil companies have recently marketed Curcuma oils. This review summarizes the volatile components of various Curcuma species, the biological activities of Curcuma essential oils, and potential safety concerns of Curcuma essential oils and their components.

Bioluminescence imaging visualizes osteopontin-induced neurogenesis and neuroblast migration in the mouse brain after stroke

Background

Osteopontin (OPN), an acidic phosphoglycoprotein, is upregulated in the brain after cerebral ischemia. We previously reported that OPN supports migration, survival, and proliferation of neural stem cells (NSC) in primary cell culture, as well as their differentiation into neurons. We here analyzed the effects of OPN on neuroblasts in vivo in the context of cerebral ischemia.

Methods

Transgenic mice expressing luciferase under the control of the neuroblast-specific doublecortin (DCX)-promoter, allowing visualization of neuroblasts in vivo using bioluminescence imaging (BLI), were injected with OPN intracerebroventricularly while control mice were injected with vehicle buffer. To assess the effects of OPN after ischemia, additional mice were subjected to photothrombosis and injected with either OPN or vehicle.

Results

OPN enhanced the migration of neuroblasts both in the healthy brain and after ischemia, as quantified by BLI in vivo. Moreover, the number of neural progenitors was increased following OPN treatment, with the maximum effect on the second day after OPN injection into the healthy brain, and 14 days after OPN injection following ischemia. After ischemia, OPN quantitatively promoted the endogenous, ischemia-induced neuroblast expansion, and additionally recruited progenitors from the contralateral hemisphere.

Conclusions

Our results strongly suggest that OPN constitutes a promising substance for the targeted activation of neurogenesis in ischemic stroke.

Simultaneous Quantification of Three Curcuminoids and Three Volatile Components of Curcuma longa Using Pressurized Liquid Extraction and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was investigated for the simultaneous quantification of two chemical types of bioactive compounds in the rhizome of Curcuma longa Linn. (turmeric), including three curcuminoids: Curcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin, and demethoxycurcumin; and three volatile components: ar-turmerone, β-turmerone, and α-turmerone. In the present study, the sample extraction system was optimized by a pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) process for further HPLC analysis. The established HPLC analysis conditions were achieved using a Zorbax SB-C18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm i.d., 5 μm) and a gradient mobile phase comprised of acetonitrile and 0.4% (v/v) aqueous acetic acid with an eluting rate of 1.0 mL/min. The curcuminoids and volatile components were detected at 430 nm and 240 nm, respectively. Moreover, the method was validated in terms of linearity, sensitivity, precision, stability and accuracy. The validated method was successfully applied to evaluate the quality of twelve commercial turmeric samples.

The Problem of Curcumin and Its Bioavailability: Could Its Gastrointestinal Influence Contribute to Its Overall Health-Enhancing Effects?

Curcumin, from the spice turmeric, exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, antiviral, and neurotrophic activity and therefore holds promise as a therapeutic agent to prevent and treat several disorders. However, a major barrier to curcumin's clinical efficacy is its poor bioavailability. Efforts have therefore been dedicated to developing curcumin formulations with greater bioavailability and systemic tissue distribution. However, it is proposed in this review that curcumin's potential as a therapeutic agent may not solely rely on its bioavailability, but rather its medicinal benefits may also arise from its positive influence on gastrointestinal health and function. In this review, in vitro, animal, and human studies investigating the effects of curcumin on intestinal microbiota, intestinal permeability, gut inflammation and oxidative stress, anaphylactic response, and bacterial, parasitic, and fungal infections are summarized. It is argued that positive changes in these areas can have wide-ranging influences on both intestinal and extraintestinal diseases, and therefore presents as a possible mechanism behind curcumin's therapeutic efficacy.

Ultrasound assisted synthesis of stable oil in milk emulsion: Study of operating parameters and scale-up aspects

In the present work, application of ultrasound and stirring individually or in combination for improved emulsification of turmeric oil in skimmed milk has been investigated. The effect of different operating parameters/strategies such as addition of surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), at different concentrations, quantity of oil phase, applied power, sonication time and duty cycle on the droplet size have been investigated. The stability of emulsion was analyzed in terms of the fraction of the emulsion that remains stable for a period of 28days. Optimized set of major emulsification process variables has been used at higher emulsion volumes. The effectiveness of treatment approach was analyzed based on oil droplet size, energy density and the time required for the formation of stable emulsion. It was observed that the stable emulsion at 50mL capacity with mean droplet diameter of about 235.4nm was obtained with the surfactant concentration of 5mg/mL, 11% of rated power (power density: 0.31W/mL) and irradiation time of 5min. The emulsion stability was higher in the case of ultrasound assisted approach as compared to the stirring. For the preparation of stable emulsion at 300mL capacity, it was observed that the sequential approach, i.e., stirring followed by ultrasound, gave lower mean droplet diameter (232.6nm) than the simultaneous approach, i.e., ultrasound and stirring together (257.9nm). However, the study also revealed that the simultaneous approach required very less time (15min) to synthesize stable emulsion as compared to the sequential approach (30min stirring and 60min ultrasound). It was successfully demonstrated that the ultrasound-assisted emulsification in the presence of SDS could be used for the preparation of stable turmeric oil-dairy emulsions, also providing insights into the role of SDS in increasing the stability of emulsions and of ultrasound in giving lower droplet sizes.

Two stereocentered HKR of anti-β,β′-diphenylpropanoxirane and anti-3-phenylethyloxiranes catalysed by Co(iii)(salen)-OAc complex: enantioselective synthesis of (+)-sertraline and (+)-naproxen

Two stereocentered HKR of anti-β,β′-diphenylmethyloxirane and anti-3-phenylethyloxiranes gives enantiopure anti-1,2-diols and oxiranes. This method is utilised for the synthesis of (+)-sertraline and (+)-naproxen.

The Role of Punicalagin in Slowing Down the Decaying of Neurons

Punicalagin is an active compound found in the Pomegranate rind. The hallmark of the compound is its antioxidant properties which is more than most other sources such as Red wine. The poly-phenol donates hydrogen to free radicals like peroxynitrites and prevents it from oxidizing and destroying microglial cells in the brain. The compound has high bio-availability and is has reduced neuronal inflammation as well. The compound is useful for treating Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s and many other Dementia’s. Apart from its antioxidant properties, the compound is an antidermatophyte and antimicrobial. Punicalagin has also shown ability in down regulating virulent Quorum sensing genes in Salmonella.

Inhibitory Activities of Essential Oil Obtained from Turmeric and Its Constituents against β-Secretase

The need for a preventive agent against dementia led us to screen natural plant resources. Among the herbs and spices tested, turmeric, from rhizomes of Curcuma longa, showed high potency against β-secretase. The active principles were determined as α-turmerone, β-turmerone and ar-turmerone, with IC50 values of 39, 62 and 92 μM respectively. In this study, the efficiency of collecting the essential oil using steam distillation of the volatile substance was disclosed. The active principles were explored, and four sesquiterpenoids and five monoterpenoids were revealed as active principles against β-secretase. On the other hand, α-turmerone, β-turmerone and ar-turmerone were also investigated in a pharmacokinetic absorption experiment. After oral administration, these compounds were detected in an intact form in the brain and serum. These results suggest that consumption of turmeric constituents may prevent dementia.

Neuroprotective Effects of Sulphated Agaran from Marine Alga Gracilaria cornea in Rat 6-Hydroxydopamine Parkinson's Disease Model: Behavioural, Neurochemical and Transcriptional Alterations

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a multifactorial disease associated with the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons and behavioural alterations. Natural bioactive compounds may provide new therapeutic alternatives for neurodegenerative disorders, such as PD. The sulphated polysaccharides isolated from marine algae are heterogenic molecules that show different biological activities. The red marine alga Gracilaria cornea has a sulphated polysaccharide (SA-Gc) with structure and anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities reported in the literature. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of SA-Gc in rat model PD induced by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Firstly, we established the PD model in rats, induced by an intrastriatal injection (int.) of 6-OHDA, followed by a single administration of SA-Gc (15, 30 or 60 μg; int.). On the 14th day, behavioural tests were performed. After killing, brain areas were dissected and used for neurochemical and/or transcriptional analyses. The results showed that SA-Gc (60 μg, int.) promoted neuroprotective effects in vivo through reducing the oxidative/nitroactive stress and through alterations in the monoamine contents induced by 6-OHDA. Furthermore, SA-Gc modulated the transcription of neuroprotective and inflammatory genes, as well as returning behavioural activities and weight gain to normal conditions. Thus, this study reports the neuroprotective effects of SA-Gc against 6-OHDA in rats.

The Potential of Curcumin in Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury

Current treatment for spinal cord injury (SCI) is supportive at best; despite great efforts, the lack of better treatment solutions looms large on neurological science and medicine. Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, a spice known for its medicinal and anti-inflammatory properties, has been validated to harbor immense effects for a multitude of inflammatory-based diseases. However, to date there has not been a review on curcumin's effects on SCI. Herein, we systematically review all known data on this topic and juxtapose results of curcumin with standard therapies such as corticosteroids. Because all studies that compare the two show superior results for curcumin over corticosteroids, it could be true that curcumin better acts at the inflammatory source of SCI-mediated neurological injury, although this question remains unanswered in patients. Because curcumin has shown improvements from current standards of care in other diseases with few true treatment options (e.g., osteoarthritis), there is immense potential for this compound in treating SCI. We critically and systematically summarize available data, discuss clinical implications, and propose further testing of this well-tolerated compound in both the preclinical and the clinical realms. Analyzing preclinical data from a clinical perspective, we hope to create awareness of the incredible potential that curcumin shows for SCI in a patient population that direly needs improvements on current therapy.

Neuroprotective effect of Tagara, an Ayurvedic drug against methyl mercury induced oxidative stress using rat brain mitochondrial fractions

BACKGROUND

Methyl mercury (MeHg), an important environmental toxicant is implicated in neurological disorders such as Hunter-Russell syndrome and Autism. Therefore, the present work is in search of new drugs that can alleviate MeHg toxicity. In this connection, Tagara, an ayurvedic drug is used for assessing its neuro protective effect against MeHg toxicity.

METHODS

In the present study, we assessed the phytochemical contents of Tagara by colorimetric and HPLC analyses. The neuroprotective effect of Tagara on MeHg induced neurotoxicity was measured in terms of viability by MTT assay and oxidative stress in terms of catalase activity, glutathione and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance levels. Further, the chelating effect of Tagara towards MeHg was performed to identify the molecular mechanism. Statistical analysis was done by statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 16.0.

RESULTS

The results demonstrated that Tagara contains significant amounts of phenols and flavonoids. Also, HPLC analysis of Tagara revealed the presence of essential oils such as hydroxyvalerenic and valerenic acids. Our results demonstrated that exposure of rat brain mitochondrial fractions to MeHg resulted in a dose dependent death in MTT assay and IC50 value was found to be 10 μM. However, a 250 μg dose of Tagara effectively prevented MeHg induced mitochondrial damage. The oxidative stress caused by MeHg results in elevated levels of reactive oxygen species as evidenced by elevated TBARS (Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances) levels and diminished catalase enzyme activity and glutathione content. However, Tagara at 250 μg concentration offsets these alterations caused by MeHg. Further, Tagara also diminished GSH oxidation caused by MeHg, confirming its chelating effect, one of the molecular mechanisms that triggers protection against oxidative damage.

CONCLUSION

Our results revealed that MeHg induced toxicity is predominantly mediated through oxidative stress mechanism and the propensity of Tagara to abolish such reactions. Hence, we propose that Tagara with a source of potential neuroprotectants may be a useful approach to alleviate MeHg associated neurotoxicity.

Toxicity of Turmeric Extracts to the Termite Reticulitermes flavipes (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae)

Turmeric is an important spice crop with documented human health benefits associated with chemicals called curcuminoids. In this study, the termite Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) was exposed to different solvent extracts of turmeric to investigate potential termiticidal properties. Treating termites with hexane extracts of purified lab-grade curcuminoids had no effect on termites. However, in continuous exposure assays, the LC(50) for hexane extracts of crude turmeric powder was 9.6 mg, or 1.0 mg starting material per square centimeter of filter paper substrate. These active components were soluble in a range of polar and apolar solvents, but only hexane could selectively fractionate active components away from the inactive curcuminoids. The active constituents of turmeric separated by thin layer chromatography (TLC) fluoresced in short-wave UV light but were not visible in long-wave UV light. By re-extracting TLC-separated bands in hexane and performing bioassays and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, we demonstrated that termiticidal components of turmeric are extractable as a blend containing mainly ar-turmerone, turmerone, and curlone. This determination is consistent with findings of preceding work by other researchers that investigated insecticidal properties of turmeric in other pest insects.

The macrosphere model-an embolic stroke model for studying the pathophysiology of focal cerebral ischemia in a translational approach

The main challenge of stroke research is to translate promising experimental findings from the bench to the bedside. Many suggestions have been made how to achieve this goal, identifying the need for appropriate experimental animal models as one key issue. We here discuss the macrosphere model of focal cerebral ischemia in the rat, which closely resembles the pathophysiology of human stroke both in its acute and chronic phase. Key pathophysiological processes such as brain edema, cortical spreading depolarizations (CSD), neuroinflammation, and stem cell-mediated regeneration are observed in this stroke model, following characteristic temporo-spatial patterns. Non-invasive in vivo imaging allows studying the macrosphere model from the very onset of ischemia up to late remodeling processes in an intraindividual and longitudinal fashion. Such a design of pre-clinical stroke studies provides the basis for a successful translation into the clinic.

Osteopontin mediates survival, proliferation and migration of neural stem cells through the chemokine receptor CXCR4

Introduction

Osteopontin (OPN) is a phosphoglycoprotein with important roles in tissue homeostasis, wound healing, immune regulation, and stress responses. It is expressed constitutively in the brain and upregulated during neuroinflammatory responses; for example, after focal cerebral ischemia. To date, its effects on neural stem cells (NSC) remain to be elucidated and are, accordingly, the subject of this study.

Method

Primary fetal rat NSC were cultured as homogenous monolayers and treated with different concentrations of OPN. Fundamental properties of NSC were assessed following OPN exposure, including proliferative activity, survival under oxidative stress, migration, and differentiation potential. To elucidate a putative action of OPN via the CXC chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4), the latter was blocked with AMD3100. To investigate effects of OPN on endogenous NSC in vivo, recombinant OPN was injected into the brain of healthy adult rats as well as rats subjected to focal cerebral ischemia. Effects of OPN on NSC proliferation and neurogenesis in the subventricular zone were studied immunohistochemically.

Results

OPN dose-dependently increased the number of NSC in vitro. As hypothesized, this effect was mediated through CXCR4. The increase in NSC number was due to both enhanced cell proliferation and increased survival, and was confirmed in vivo. Additionally, OPN dose-dependently stimulated the migration of NSC via CXCR4. Moreover, in the presence of OPN, differentiation of NSC led to a significant increase in neurogenesis both in vitro as well as in vivo after cerebral ischemia.

Conclusion

Data show positive effects of OPN on survival, proliferation, migration, and neuronal differentiation of NSC. At least in part these effects were mediated via CXCR4. Results suggest that OPN is a promising substance for the targeted activation of NSC in future experimental therapies for neurological disorders such as stroke.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13287-015-0098-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

In vivo imaging of endogenous neural stem cells in the adult brain

The discovery of endogenous neural stem cells (eNSCs) in the adult mammalian brain with their ability to self-renew and differentiate into functional neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes has raised the hope for novel therapies of neurological diseases. Experimentally, those eNSCs can be mobilized in vivo, enhancing regeneration and accelerating functional recovery after, e.g., focal cerebral ischemia, thus constituting a most promising approach in stem cell research. In order to translate those current experimental approaches into a clinical setting in the future, non-invasive imaging methods are required to monitor eNSC activation in a longitudinal and intra-individual manner. As yet, imaging protocols to assess eNSC mobilization non-invasively in the live brain remain scarce, but considerable progress has been made in this field in recent years. This review summarizes and discusses the current imaging modalities suitable to monitor eNSCs in individual experimental animals over time, including optical imaging, magnetic resonance tomography and-spectroscopy, as well as positron emission tomography (PET). Special emphasis is put on the potential of each imaging method for a possible clinical translation, and on the specificity of the signal obtained. PET-imaging with the radiotracer 3’-deoxy-3’-[¹⁸F]fluoro-L-thymidine in particular constitutes a modality with excellent potential for clinical translation but low specificity; however, concomitant imaging of neuroinflammation is feasible and increases its specificity. The non-invasive imaging strategies presented here allow for the exploitation of novel treatment strategies based upon the regenerative potential of eNSCs, and will help to facilitate a translation into the clinical setting.

Spicing up endogenous neural stem cells: aromatic-turmerone offers new possibilities for tackling neurodegeneration

There is a growing interest in the therapeutic utility of compounds derived from Curcuma longa, an herb of the Zingiberaceae family that has been part of traditional medicine for centuries. Recent reports suggest that bioactive compounds isolated from the rhizome of these plants can address two key aspects of brain injury following stroke that must be dealt with for functional recovery to occur: the moderation of neuroinflammation, and the mobilization of endogenous stem cells resident in the nervous system. Defining their mechanism of action remains a question, but emerging evidence may point towards one shared with more classic modulators of neural stem cell proliferation and survival.