The Coronavirus pandemic brings a new normal. Along with several changes, turmeric shifts its place from the kitchen cabinet to the medicine shelf in many houses, because not only Asian countries, but turmeric is globally accepted as an effective treatment against Coronavirus.
Recently two journals published articles reviewed the efficacy of turmeric against Coronavirus and the optimistic reports insist me to start my blogging carrier to highlighting the facts with my readers. However, the authors of these research reports concluded that detailed clinical investigation further needed to establish its efficacy statistically.
Before I emphasize the benefits of turmeric against Coronavirus infections, I want to share some general information about Coronavirus infections. Severe acute respiratory diseases are the main worry about the coronavirus. Apart from the lung problem, many medical professionals explain coronavirus targets other vital organs including the heart and kidney functioning also. [1] The COVID-19 follows fast mutation and that’s the reason to develop resistance against pre‐existing antiviral medications. This makes the difficulty to treat Coronavirus infections and multiple failures occur in a conventional treatment process. [1]
Turmeric is one of the most researched herbal ingredients and much research evidence has proven the therapeutic benefits of curcumin. Curcuma longa is the scientific name of the turmeric. According to the review report published in Phytotherapy Research Journal on 19th May 2020, it has mentioned that turmeric containing curcumin has the potency to acts against Coronavirus due to its multiple anti-viral mechanisms of actions. [1] This review report also mentioned that the promising benefits of turmeric against damage to the vital organs. [1] Similar scientific-based evidence you will also found in an article published by the Clinical and Experimental report dated 1st July 2020 under the titled ‘Potential benefits of turmeric in COVID-19’. [2]
The US food and drug administration (FDA) has also approved curcumin after reviewing more than 300 human trial results. All these results reported that curcumin has beneficial protective effects against multiple disorders including inflammatory conditions, cardiovascular problems, pulmonary disease, neurological disorder, metabolic diseases, liver problems, and cancers. [1] The secret element of turmeric, i.e. curcumin was discovered by Vogel and Pelletier in the Harvard College laboratory almost two centuries ago. Turmeric contains 2- 5% of curcumin along with other phytochemicals. [3, 4] Along with curcumin, other multiple phytochemicals present in this golden spice can manifest these activities uniquely, additively, or synergistically with curcumin. [5]
How turmeric effective against Coronavirus?
NitaNaturale always insists readers to know in detail for wholehearted acceptance of health-related substances in their life. So that no further confusion can create any dilemma or non-compliance about your treatment or lifestyle measure decision. Following the mechanism of actions of turmeric makes it a promising herbal remedy against Coronavirus.
Turmeric has antiviral property
Turmeric containing phytochemicals interacts with the viral replication cycle by targeting DNA polymerase along with other various essentials molecular requirements for virus replication. Thus, Turmeric restricts viral multiplication. The antiviral effects of turmeric act against various viruses like parainfluenza virus type 3, herpes simplex virus, respiratory syncytial virus, etc. Turmeric can block the virus entrance into our immune system and also hinders virus budding by modifying the surface structure of the virus so that they unable to bind with the target receptor in our physiological system. [1]
Turmeric restricts Coronavirus entry
Researchers have shown that curcumin present in turmeric can slow down viral load by altering surface protein structure in viruses and blocking the entry of viruses to the cell. In childhood, we read about a virus, a single-cell living organism, and does not contain all the required enzymes for replication. After invading, the virus into a host cell, they use the cellular mechanism of the host body for their reproduction. The antiviral agents usually restrict the replication of viruses, so that they cannot penetrate healthy cells and restrict them only in the infected cells. Thus, the infection cannot spread and turns to disease. The antiviral property of turmeric targets the penetration ability of a virus and also restricts the supply of essential cellular components required for viral replication. [1]
Recent researchers estimated that Coronavirus bind with the Angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor present in our body and spread the infection to different vital organs by spiking the glycoprotein. But the administration of curcumin can bind with the ACE2 receptor and restrict the entry of Coronavirus. [1]
NitaNaturale recommends readers use turmeric as a prophylactic treatment for viral infections. This means you need to take turmeric before start any infection and continue to take throughout the incubation period of the germ.
Turmeric cease coronavirus load
Restriction of viral replication is one of the potential therapeutic strategies to reduce the viral load. Laboratory-based research results showed that curcumin can reduce the viral load by inhibiting SARS‐CoV replication. Curcumin can break RNA synthesis to stop viral replication. [1]
Turmeric slows down coronavirus infection
Viral protease of Coronavirus can impede immune response. Turmeric containing phytochemicals like curcumin can inhibit viral protease by following molecular docking. This mechanism of action of curcumin reduces the binding energies of Coronavirus and inhibit the steady growth of infection. [1]
Turmeric reduces fatality of Coronavirus infection
Different types of interferon (IFN) mediated immune responses can act against viral infection. But the reduction of interferon production in our immune system can increase the fatality of coronavirus, which might be one of the reasons for the higher mortality rate among elderly patients. I have researched different journal papers. And I got the information that turmeric containing curcumin administration could increase the production of IFN and activate our innate immune responses against the fatality of Coronavirus infection by reducing the reproduction of this virus. But early intervention is very important to get this benefit. Therefore, I suggest you start taking turmeric regularly until the pandemic does not over. [1]
Turmeric protects against Coronavirus induced lung disorders
Coronavirus stimulates the secretion of different inflammatory mediators like cytokines into the endothelial cells of the blood vessels present in the pulmonary system. Turmeric has a potent anti-inflammatory effect due to the presence of curcumin in it, which downregulates the cytokines and other inflammatory mediators released in lung infections and reduces the severity. [1] A research result already reported that curcumin administration had the potentiality to act against recurrent respiratory tract infections due to its immune-modulatory effects. [6]
Coronavirus induced lung fibrosis is a devastating outcome of COVID‐19 infection leads to acute respiratory distress syndrome. Curcumin interacts with the NF‐кB pathway and prevents TGF‐ß overexpression, which is the main culprit of lung fibrosis development.
Water lodging in the lung tissue or pulmonary edema is another cause of COVID‐19 infection severity. Animal research results reported that the anti-inflammatory property of curcumin could be used as a prophylactic treatment to reduce the risk of fluid accumulation in the lungs under hypoxia (inadequate oxygen supply in the lungs). [1]
Turmeric safeguarding the cardiovascular system against Coronavirus infection
ACE2 enzyme plays a vital role in cardiac functioning. Coronavirus infection spikes ACE2 enzyme activity. The lungs, heart, and kidney are the organs where the ACE2 receptor is present. Suppression of ACE2 activity can cause cardiac dysfunction. But curcumin present in turmeric has a specific role in angiotensin receptor, which significantly controls blood pressure and improves cardiac fibrosis. Besides this, the anti-inflammatory property of turmeric also decreases the risk of cardiac inflammation. [1]
Turmeric prevents Coronavirus associated kidney damage
Some COVID‐19 infected patients also have reported kidney damage. Turmeric can improve renal blood flow by correctly modulating angiotensin receptor functioning. Its anti-inflammatory property also provides potential benefits in the treatment of COVID‐19 associated kidney injury. [1]
Turmeric inhibits oxidative stress enhancement due to Coronavirus infection
Coronavirus infection generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), which also damages lung tissue. Turmeric has a potent antioxidant property which up‐regulates glutathione, the natural antioxidant present in our body, and neutralizes the excess burden of ROS, and helps to reduce the oxidative stress in the lungs. [1]
Tips to Get Optimum Benefits of Turmeric
- Intake of fresh turmeric powder mixing with fat like olive oil, flaxseed oil, coconut oil, coconut milk, or fish oil for faster dissolving curcumin (curcumin is fat-soluble). Thus, curcumin absorption becomes faster in the blood.
- Drink hot turmeric preparations, because heat enhances the bioavailability of curcumin by increasing its solubility in gastrointestinal fluid. I recommend turmeric milk at bedtime to heal your body naturally.
- Turmeric is safe to use in a dose between 6–7 g/day orally. [2] You can divide these dose into multiple segments and can enjoy different turmeric recipes so that your taste buds cannot become dull. It is an easy way to maintain long-term compliance for including herbs in your daily diet.
- Turmeric latte is one of the health-trendy recipes. Try to prepare the preparation in your kitchen.
- Instead of taking turmeric alone, mix it with black pepper, which is the natural source of piperine.
What precautionary measures essential to know about turmeric?
Excessive doses of turmeric can cause nausea, vomiting, or other gastrointestinal problems. The dose of turmeric must be reduced if you use a combination of turmeric and black pepper. This herbal combination increases the bioavailability of phytochemicals present in turmeric. A combination of 2 g of curcumin with 5 mg of piperine displayed three times enhancement of bioavailability. [7]
Note: Blogs under NitaNaturale contain some medical terms and concepts, which you may not know in detail. For better understanding, readers can feel free to contact me by filling the form under the contact section.
References
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ptr.6738
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ced.14357
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3535097/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22887802/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23847105/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3535097/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6770259/