Effect of different curcumin dosages on human gall bladder

Abstract

Our previous study demonstrated that curcumin, an active compound of Curcuma xanthorrhiza and C. domestica, produces a positive cholekinetic effect. A 20 mg amount of curcumin is capable of contracting the gall bladder by up to 29% within an observation time of 2 h. The aim of the current study was to define the dosage of curcumin capable of producing a 50% contraction of the gall bladder, and to determine if there is a linear relationship between doubling the curcumin dosage and the doubling of gall bladder contraction. A randomised, single-blind, three-phase, crossover-designed examination was carried out on 12 healthy volunteers. Ultrasonography was carried out serially to measure the gall bladder volume. The data obtained was analysed by analysis of variance (ANOVA). The fasting volumes of gall bladders were similar (P > 0.50), with 17.28 +/- 5.47 mL for 20 mg curcumin, 18.34 +/- 3.75 mL for 40 mg and 18.24 +/- 3.72 mL for 80 mg. The percentage decrease in gall bladder volume 2 h after administration of 20, 40 and 80 mg was 34.10 +/- 10.16, 51.15 +/- 8.08 and 72.25 +/- 8.22, respectively, which was significantly different (P < 0.01). On the basis of the present findings, it appears that the dosage of cucumin capable of producing a 50% contraction of the bladder was 40 mg. This study did not show any linear relationship between doubling curcumin dosage and the doubling of gall bladder contraction.

Multi‐targeted therapy by curcumin: how spicy is it?

“…Analogous observations were made in another study in which curcumin lowered LDL and increased HDL in atherosclerosis patients [193]. Rasyid et al [194] showed the protective effects of 20 mg of curcumin in improving gallbladder function and reducing gallstone formation. Another trial investigated the effects of curcumin on phosphorylase kinase (PhK) activity in patients with psoriasis [195].…”

Overexpression of phosphorylated nuclear factor-kappa B in tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma and high-grade dysplasia is associated with poor prognosis

“…Curcumin is also attractive because of its apparent use and relative pharmacological safety in humans. 34,35 In summary, this investigation demonstrated overexpression of EGFR, p-Akt and p-NF-kB for squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil and associated high-grade dysplasia, as compared with adjacent non-neoplastic squamous epithelium and tonsillar controls. Overexpressed and translocated p-NF-kB was a marker significantly related to poor prognosis in patients with high-grade dysplasia or squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil.…”

Detection of curcumin and its metabolites in hepatic tissue and portal blood of patients following oral administration

“…Despite the evidence that curcumin is poorly available following oral administration, there are reports that curcumin at 50 -200 mg kg À1 doses exerts biological activity on sites distant from the locus of absorption in rodents, such as breast (Inano and Onoda, 2002), prostate (Frank et al, 2003), lung (Menon et al, 1995) and especially the liver (Busquets et al, 2001;Park et al, 2001;Nanji et al, 2003). Studies on gall bladder contractility following oral curcumin in humans suggest that curcumin may exert biological actions at doses of 20 mg (Rasyid & Lelo 1999;Rasyid et al, 2002).…”