Zee Media Bureau/Shruti Saxena
New Delhi: Turmeric has been on the Indian food menu since eons. It is widely used in Indian cooking. Also known as `Haldi`, has substantial health benefits and medicinal properties that can fight diseases like cancer, diabetes and inflammation.
But now, according to a new study, the humble Turmeric or `haldi` is emerging as a promising basis for an inexpensive treatment for neurological disorders and Alzheimer's disease.
The findings of a study suggest that aromatic (ar-) turmerone , a compound found in turmeric promotes stem cell proliferation and differentiation in the brain.
The study looked at the effects of aromatic (ar-) turmerone on endogenous neutral stem cells (NSC), the stem cells found within adult brains.
To test the effects of ar-turmerone on NSC, researchers injected adult rats with ar-turmerone.
They found that the subventricular zone (SVZ) and the hippocampus expanded in the brains of rats injected with ar-turmerone.
Ar-turmerone is the lesser-studied of two major bioactive compounds found in turmeric.
The other compound is curcumin which is well known for its anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties.
The research appeared in the open access journal Stem Cell Research & Therapy.
(With Agency inputs)
