Curried wins incurable tuberculosis

Can the popular curry spice treat human tuberculosis? The turmeric contains a chemical that stimulates the immune system to fight the most serious strain of the disease, develop resistance to drugs.


In recent years the world has witnessed outbreak of drug-resistant tuberculosis, and this problem requires the creation of drugs that can prevent the spread of disease. The disease is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is spread from person to person through the air like a conventional strain of tuberculosis.

The bacterium also penetrates into the lungs, the brain, kidneys and spine, as well as traditional types of disease. However medically accepted treatment for tuberculosis agents do not work in this case, because the disease is refractory. That's why scientists around the world are looking for the active substance with a direct antimicrobial effect that can enhance the antimicrobial effects of the variety of tuberculosis.

And now a group of experts from Colorado and China, said that the key to the fight against drug-resistant tuberculosis can be a popular condiment. It is about curcumin, turmeric which provides a bright orange-yellow hue. Recall that turmeric is the main ingredient of curry.

The study found out that curcumin kills the bacteria that cause drug-resistant tuberculosis. Curcumin is a polyphenol that promotes apoptosis - mechanism of bacterial cell death. This mechanism uses human immune cells, called macrophages, to fight the "invaders."