WEDNESDAY, September 24, (News Locale) - The Indian spice turmeric or curcumin, which is such an essential part of the daily diet in the country, may also have some other medicinal benefits besides promoting wound healing. Researchers have revealed turmeric was able to reduce the size of the blood clot in haemorrhagic stroke that was induced in animal models.
Researchers at the U.S. based Medical College of Georgia, used lab animals for this study. They induced haemorrhagic stroke in the animals and then injected a mixture of turmeric powder and corn oil into the abdomen of the animals.
These injections were given once every hour for three hours. The researchers report curcumin significantly decreases the size of a blood clot. Lead researcher Krishnan Dhandapani, neuroscientist at the MCG School of Medicine, said turmeric could prove to be a boon for people who do not know they have had strokes.
Intracerebral hemorrhages are bleeding in the brain that are caused by ruptured vessels. Such strokes usually cause other symptoms like headache and nausea. The usual treatment is invasive surgery to remove these clots. However it is often too late and the size of the clot will have worsened most of the symptoms and thus adversely affects surgical outcomes.
According to the American Stroke Association, some 17 percent of all strokes are haemorrhagic in nature. People with high blood pressure are usually at risk for such strokes.
Second-year medical student Jay McCracken, who worked with Dr Krishnan in this study, said the researchers are yet to find why turmeric was successful in reducing the size of blood clots. He theorized that it may be because curcumin is a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant substance.
Turmeric is an Indian spice that is added to almost all items in the cuisine here. Previous studies have indicated it may be able to reduce the risk of breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease. If the above study is borne out in clinical trials, then turmeric may also exert benefits in stroke patients.
Source: News Locale |
