How Turmeric Prevents Type-1 Diabetes Related Heart Failure?

Turmeric, with curcumin as its active ingredient, is a common Indian spice. A number of studies have shown that as an antioxidant, the curcumin in turmeric is effective in treating many ailments including diabetes. However, because of poor absorption and rapid metabolism, curcumin can not be sufficiently used by the body in its original form.

In an earlier study published in BMC Diabetelogy and Metabolic Syndrome journal, Mohamed T Abdel Aziz and his colleagues found that a new water soluble curcumin derivative with 3 percent curcumin (NCD) significantly increased HO-1 expression and subsequent HO-activity, significantly lowered plasma glucose and increased plasma insulin in experimental animals with type-1 diabetes and thus had anti-diabetic actions. Heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is an enzyme that helps in cellular defense against tissue injuries. It is also well known for its antioxidant boosting properties and anti-apoptotic (anti cell-death) actions.

In this study, published in the latest issue of the same journal, the researchers set out to evaluate the effect of NCD on signaling mechanisms involved in thickening of the heart muscles (cardiomyocyte hypertrophy) in type-1 diabetes with cardiomyopathy. They also wanted to find out if HO-1 has any role to play in this action.

Cell signaling is a complex mechanism of communication for coordinating cell actions in which the cells perceive and respond to their microenvironment. When this 'information processing' goes wrong, it may result in diseases such as cancer, immunity diseases, and diabetes.

This study was performed at the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt. The researchers divided 140 adult rats into control group, controls receiving NCD, diabetic, diabetic receiving NCD, diabetic receiving pure curcumin, diabetic receiving HO inhibitor, zinc protoporphyrin IX (ZnPP IX) and diabetic receiving NCD and ZnPP IX.

After 45 days, cardiac physiologic parameters, plasma glucose, insulin, glycated hemoglobin (GHb), HO-1 gene expression and HO activity in pancreas and cardiac tissues were assessed. Gene expression of p300 was also studied.

Results showed that –

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Oral NCD did not change the plasma glucose levels in the control group while it significantly increased the plasma insulin in the control group. 'Therefore, curcumin may have an effect on insulin secretion', say the researchers.

Diabetic rats injected with HO-1 inhibitor ZnPP demonstrated significantly higher glucose levels and lower insulin levels proving that curcumin increases HO-1 expression, and suggesting that the hypoglycemic action of curcumin may be, in part, mediated through HO-1.

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Oral supplementation of NCD significantly increased HO-1 gene expression and activity in the cardiac tissue of the diabetic group.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy is characterized by thickening of heart muscles resulting in diastolic dysfunction especially in left ventricle. This study found that 'curcumin-treated diabetic rats demonstrated reduced cardiac hypertrophy, improved chamber compliance and enhanced systolic function when compared with untreated diabetic counterparts'.

A protein p300 affects the gene expression responsible for thickening of heart muscles. The researchers found that treatment with p300 blocker curcumin prevented the gene expressions that cause cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in type-1 diabetes.

The researchers believe that increase in p300 gene expression in hearts of diabetic rats may be due to hyperglycemia. Several signaling mechanisms activated by hyperglycemia may stimulate the activation of p300.

Since there was no significant difference in p300 gene expression in the diabetic group receiving NCD when compared with the diabetic group receiving NCD combined with HO inhibitor, they deduced that curcumin decreased the p300 gene expression in cardiac tissue by a direct effect rather than by inducing HO-1 expression.

'HO-1 gene expression and HO activity were significantly increased in diabetic heart and pancreas. Diabetes up-regulated expression of cardiomyopathy markers and p300. However, NCD and curcumin prevented diabetes-induced up-regulation of these parameters and improved left ventricular function. The effect of the NCD was better than the same dose of curcumin' concluded the study.

Reference: Abdel Aziz MT, et al. Signaling mechanisms of a water soluble curcumin derivative in experimental type 1 diabetes with cardiomyopathy. BMC Diabetelogy and Metabolic Syndrome 2013 5:13 doi:10.1186/1758-5996-5-13.

Source-Medindia