Choleretic Activity of Turmeric and its Active Ingredients

Abstract

Turmeric, a rhizome of Curcumin longa L. is widely used as both a spice and an herbal medicine. The traditional use of turmeric in gastroenterology is mainly based on its choleretic activity. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of turmeric on bile flow (BF) and total bile acids (TBAs) excretion in a bile fistula rat model after acute duodenal administration. A significant dose-dependent enhancement in both BF and TBAs was detected after treatment with the turmeric decoctions which suggested the choleretic activity was bile acid-dependent secretion. In order to direct the active group of compounds, aqueous (AE), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and petroleum ether (PE) extracts were investigated. The EtOAc and PE extracts showing high effects were purified to locate the active ingredients. Three curcuminoids (curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin) and 2 sesquiterpenes (bisacurone B and ar-turmerone) were isolated. It was found Bisacurone B was the most potent choleretic ingredient followed by ar-turmerone, bisdemethoxycurcumin demethoxycurcumin, and then curcumin. The amounts of the active ingredients were quantitatively analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The EtOAc and PE extracts had high sesquiterpenes and curcuminoids content, while the AE extract had poor content of sesquiterpenes and curcuminoids which affected neither BF nor TBAs. Based on the results of multiple linear regression analysis, the content of BIS and TUR were dominant factors (P < 0.01) of controlling BL and TBAs in EtOAC and PE extracts.

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

“…Ar-turmerone improved the ethanol-induced reduction in the cell viability of hepatocytes isolated from SD male rats [30]. In normal Wistar rats, intraduodenal injection of ar-turmerone increased the volume of total bile acids and bile secretion [71]. In addition, ar-turmerone caused significant inhibitory effects on the cell proliferation of three HCC cells, namely, HepG2, Huh-7, and Hep3B.…”

“…C. longa elevated the total amounts of bile acids and bile secretion by activating the bile excretion pump in a concentration-dependent manner [41,70,71]. In particular, the water extract of the radix of C. longa increased the level of serum total bile acids by UDP-glucuronyl transferase activity for cholesterol excretion from the liver in high-fat diet rat models.…”

“…For example, curcumin did not cause significant cell viability at a low concentration of 1 μ M, while bisacurone at the same concentration caused high cell viability following ethanol treatment in hepatocytes isolated from SD rats [ 30 ]. Additionally, bisacurone was more effective at promoting bile secretion and produced more total bile acids than curcuminoids and ar-turmerone in Wistar rats [ 71 ]. A significant decrease in the ALT level in rat serum, which was increased by ethanol administration, was observed after a single intake of bisacurone [ 32 ].…”

Pharmacokinetics and Tissue Distribution of PLGAPLL- PEG-TF Nanoparticles Loaded with Daunorubicin and Tetrandrine Following Intravenous Injection in the Rats Using LC-MS/MS

“…The Chromatographic analysis using LC-MS/MS method was validated for the quantification of DNR and Tet in biological matrix. [16][17][18][19][20][21]…”

Isolation, Characterization, and Possible Anti‐Alzheimer's Disease Activities of Bisabolane‐Type Sesquiterpenoid Derivatives and Phenolics from the Rhizomes of Curcuma longa

“…It is worthwhile to mention that bisabolane‐type sesquiterpenoids are one of the most important sesquiterpenoids in chemical constituents of C. longa . To date, two hundred compounds were isolated and elucidated, which possessed choleretic, antioxidant, treating Alzheimer's disease, antifungal, and hypoglycemic effects . The extensive uses and multiple functions of this plant lead to the continuous focus on C. longa .…”