https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7212-3673
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ABSTRACT
Overview
A novel highly bioavailable curcumin-galactomannan (CGM) formulation was shown to have improved blood-brain-barrier (BBB) permeability of free curcuminoids in animal models; however, this has not been established in humans. The present study was conducted to determine the functional effects of CGM on brain waves in healthy individuals, owing to its BBB permeability.
Methods
A total of 18 healthy volunteers aged 35–65 were randomly assigned to consume 500 mg CGM, Unformulated curcumin (UC) or Placebo capsules twice daily for 30 days. Electroencephalogram (EEG) measurements, audio-visual reaction time tests and a working memory test were conducted at baseline and after 30 days.
Results
Supplementation of CGM resulted in a significant increase in α- and β-waves (p < 0.05) as well as a significant reduction in α/β ratio in comparison with unformulated curcumin and placebo groups. Furthermore, the CGM showed significant reduction in the audio-reaction time (29.8 %; p < 0.05) in comparison with placebo and 24.6% (p < 0.05) with unformulated curcumin. The choice-based visual-reaction time was also significantly decreased (36%) in CGM as compared to unformulated curcumin and placebo which produced 15.36% and 5.2% respectively.
Conclusion
The observed increase in α and β waves and reduction in α/β ratio in the CGM group suggest that CGM can influence the brain waves in healthy subjects in a manner consistent with penetration of the blood-brain-barrier. The EEG results correlated with improved audio-visual and working memory tests which further support the role of CGM on memory improvements and fatigue reduction.
Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge the operational support given by the Aman Hospital & Research Centre and financial support provided by Akay Natural Ingredients, Cochin, India, for conducting the study. Also extends the sincere thanks to all the participants and radiology team of the hospital. Protocol design was done by KIM and SPI; experiments and data collection were done by AK and KR; data analysis and interpretation were carried out by SPI, KIM, SDS, AS, CM and KR; manuscript was prepared by SDS and KR and critically reviewed by AS, CM and BM. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Disclosure statement
The authors disclose the following conflict of interest. ‘CurQfen®’ is the registered trademark of CGM. AK is the principal investigator who conducted the study. RK and SPI belong to the non-profitable institution and have no conflict of interest. SDS, BM and IMK belong to Akay who own the patent for CGM. Life Extension Inc., a dietary supplement company that sells finished products containing CGM, employs AGS and CM. Akay and Life Extension are two completely unrelated entities with no financial ties to each other, but rather collaborated on a scientific level for data analysis and manuscript preparation.
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Aman Khanna
Aman Khanna is a MD Pysician at Aman Hospital and Research Centre, Vadodara, India. He has got more than 20 years of experience in Clinical Research. His area of interest are metabolic diseases and Cognitive health.
Syam Das S
Syam Das S is a research scientist at the Research and Development Center, Akay Natural Ingredients Ltd, Cochin, Kerala. He earned Ph.D in Biochemistry from University of Kerala, India. His area of interest is Nutraceuticals and their effects on health.
R. Kannan
R. Kannan is a Research scholar at the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mahathma Gandhi University, Kerala, India. The main focus of his research is on pathological and mechanistic studies of neurological disorders, including neurodegeneration.
Andrew G. Swick
Andrew G. Swick is Chief Scientific Officer at Life Extension Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He earned an MS from the University of Nebraska, PhD from the University of Wisconsin and received postdoctoral fellowship from the University of North Carolina Lineberger Cancer Research Center and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His current research interests focus on the use of nutraceuticals for disease prevention and maximization of healthspan.
Cristina Matthewman
Cristina Matthewman is a Research Scientist at Life Extension, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She earned a PhD in Neuroscience from University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine and MSc in Biophysics and Medical Physics from University of Physics, Bucharest, Romania. Her current research interests are natural ingredients with health benefits.
Balu Maliakel
Balu Maliakel is the Managing Director of Akay Natural Ingredients Ltd, Kerala, India. He earned Ph.D from North Eastern Hill University, India and a Postdoctoral fellowships from University of Zurich, Switzerland and University of Vienna, Austria. His main area of interest includes bioactive natural molecules and their extraction, formulation and commercial scale production technologies.
Sibi P. Ittiyavirah
Sibi P. Ittiyavirah is Professor in Pharmacology at Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kottayam, Kerala. He did his Ph.D in Pharmacology from University of Delhi, NewDelhi. He has supervised several Ph.D students and his major area of research interest includes development of natural drug candidates for for Neurodegenerative diseases.
I. M. Krishnakumar
I. M. Krishnakumar is Chief Research Officer at Akay Natural Ingredients Ltd, Kerala, India. He earned Ph.D in Chemistry from Mahathma Gandhi University, Kerala, India and received Postdoctoral research fellowships from Houston medical school, University of Texas, Houston and from The Burnham Institute of Medical Research, San Diego, CA. He is a Bio-organic chemist interested in natural bioactive molecules, delivery forms and pharmacological effects.