Turmeric, a common spice in Asian food, shows potential for helping regenerate brain cell growth in patients after a stroke. Paul A Lapchack, Director of Translational Research in the Department of Neurology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center presented research findings to the American Heart Association International Stroke Conference in Los Angeles, California in February 2011, Science News reported.
Previous studies have shown that curcumin, the chemical component of turmeric, was blocked by the blood brain barrier, was not well absorbed by the body and was quickly depleted. The new drug CNB-001 is a new molecule created from curcumin. It does not appear to share these problems, and could be effective in humans when administered up to three hours after a stroke. CNB-001 appears to be better absorbed by the body and distributed in the brain.
The research on CNB-001 has only been tested on laboratory animals, but there could be human trials soon. It could reduce damage such as speech impairment, memory damage and movement problems related to clot caused strokes. Lab experiments showed that if given within one hour, muscle movement damage was reduced. The human equivalent would be about three hours. CNB-01 protects brain cells and improves recovery.
It does not attack clots like the only drug approved to treat clot caused strokes, tPA, but it repairs damage on the molecular level.
Sharlin Ahmed of the Stroke Association, told the Daily Mail that doctors have known for a long time that turmeric could help some patients after a stroke by protecting cells and encouraging new growth. Turmeric is in the Ginger family. It has been used in Asian medicine to treat gastrointestinal problems and studies have shown it can be used as an anti-inflammatory medicine and an antioxidant. Ancient Chinese and Ayruvedic practitioners have used turmeric for many years.