An ingredient used in curries has the potential to repair neurological disorders, a study says.
Aromatic-turmerone, a compound found in turmeric, could encourage the growth of nerve stem cells, researchers from the Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine in Julich, Germany, claim.
The research found the higher the concentration of aromatic-turmerone, the greater the growth of the NSCs.
The study, which was published in Stem Cell Research & Therapy, says that "although many studies have demonstrated curcumin to possess anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties to date, the effects of ar-turmerone remain to be elucidated. With the perspective of ar-turmerone as a therapeutic option in mind, we investigated the effects of ar-turmerone on NSCs."
Rats were injected with the compound and their brains were then scanned. Particular parts of the brain, known to be involved in nerve cell growth, were seen to be more active after the aromatic-turmerone infusion, the BBC reports.
Dr. Maria Adele Rueger, a member of the research team told the BBC that "it is interesting that it might be possible to boost the effectiveness of the stem cells with aromatic-turmerone. And it is possible this in turn can help boost repair in the brain."