Curcumin

Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) is a non-selective ion channel expressed in nociceptor sensory neurons and transduces chemical, inflammatory, and neuropathic pain signals. Numerous non-reactive compounds and electrophilic compounds, such as endogenous inflammatory mediators and exogenous pungent chemicals, can activate TRPA1¹.

Curcumin is a natural agonist of TRPA1 channels produced from the root Curcuma longa L. with an effective concentration of 10-200 μM and an EC₅₀ of 10 μM. Curcumin is hypothesized to be effective in the prevention and alleviation of various pathologies. Curcumin significantly lowers oxidized proteins, GFAP marker levels and β-amyloid plaques in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease². In rats, curcumin reduces liver damage caused by gastric ethanol infusion. This is mainly done by decreasing hepatic MDA, inhibiting NF-κB activation and reducing apoptosis of hepatic cells thus improving hepatic histopathology and reducing the morbidity associated with alcoholic liver disease³. Also, MDX mice treated with curcumin show improvement of grip strength in a dose-dependent manner and a reduction of the CK marker which indicates skeletal muscle injury⁴.