Through innovative refinement, nanocurcumin, evolved from turmeric's primary component curcumin, has improved characteristics and pharmaceutical potential, particularly in drug delivery systems.

2023 Reference Series in Phytochemistry Bioactive Compounds and Biological Activities of Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) Jyotirmayee B, Nayak SS, Mohapatra N, Sahoo S, Mishra M, Mahalik G

Review Article Bioactive Compounds Biological Activities Turmeric

The methodology of the research involved analyzing the cultivation, storage, and surrounding environmental factors crucial to turmeric production, such as soil condition and climate. This was intertwined with investigations into the chemical composition of turmeric, focusing mainly on curcumin, its main component. Moving forward, the study then evaluated curcumin analogs and formulations, leading to a deep dive into the relatively new development of nanocurcumin.

The discussion of the research results revealed several interesting findings. Firstly, turmeric exhibited a variety of useful properties, highlighting its role in traditional medicine and livelihood in Indian tribes. Most importantly, the research concluded the impressive potential of nanocurcumin. This altered form of curcumin showed not only enhanced characteristics but also possible applications in the pharmaceutical field, specifically for drug delivery systems.

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Chinese herbal medicine was effective in treating coronary heart disease patients with anxiety or depression, particularly in improving angina pectoris, and its active compounds could act on the pathological targets of CHD, anxiety, and depression.

2022 Frontiers in Pharmacology Evidence and Characteristics of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Coronary Heart Disease Patients With Anxiety or Depression: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review Wang B, Teng Y, Li Y, Lai S, Wu Y, Chen S, et al.

Systematic Review Angina Anxiety Cardiovascular Disease

The meta-analysis of 32 studies found that Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) was more effective in treating anxiety and depression in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) compared to control groups, and the efficacy of CHM was similar to Western medicine. Additionally, CHM was shown to improve angina stability in CHD patients with anxiety or depression better than control and Western medicine groups. The study identified the main underlying mechanisms to involve anti-damage/apoptosis, anti-inflammation, antioxidative stress, and maintaining neurotransmitter homeostasis, with certain herbal compounds being most related to CHD, anxiety, and depression.

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Tart cherry juice shows promise in aiding blood sugar control and supporting heart health, highlighting its potential as a natural dietary addition.

2022 Complementary Therapies in Medicine Effects of tart cherry juice consumption on cardio-metabolic risk factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials Moosavian SP, Maharat M, Chambari M, Moradi F, Rahimlou M

Systematic Review Blood Sugar Cardiovascular Disease Heart Disease

Tart cherry juice was found to lower fasting blood sugar but didn't have a significant impact on blood pressure, insulin, cholesterol, body fat, or weight. It is rich in antioxidants, which may be why it's beneficial for the heart. Changes in gut bacteria might also play a role. More research with larger and varied groups of people is needed to confirm these findings and understand them better. In the meantime, healthcare professionals may consider suggesting tart cherry juice for heart health.

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Eating more avocados, specifically two servings a week, is associated with a significantly lesser risk of cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease.

2022 Journal of the American Heart Association Avocado Consumption and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in US Adults Pacheco LS, Li Y, Rimm EB, Manson JAE, Sun Q, Rexrode K, et al.

Cohort Study Avocado Cardiovascular Disease Heart Disease

The research analysis included 68,786 women from the Nurses' Health Study and 41,701 men from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, who were free of cancer, coronary heart disease, and stroke at the start. Their diet was assessed using validated food frequency questionnaires at the start and then every four years. The researchers used Cox proportional hazards regressions to estimate hazard ratios. Over three decades of follow-up, 14,274 new cases of cardiovascular disease were documented, including 9,185 coronary heart disease events and 5,290 strokes.

After adjusting for lifestyle and other dietary factors, it was found that compared to non-consumers, those who had higher avocado intake exhibited a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease. No significant associations for stroke were detected. Furthermore, it was noted that replacing half a serving per day of certain fatty foods with equivalent amounts of avocado was linked with lower risk of cardiovascular disease.

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Turmeric curcuminoids are associated with better pain relief than NSAIDs in knee osteoarthritis.

2021 Complementary Therapies in Medicine The efficacy of high- and low-dose curcumin in knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis An-Fang Hsiao, Yi-Chieh Lien, I-Shiang Tzeng, Chien-Ting Liu, Sheng-Hsun Chou, Yi-Shiung Horng

Systematic Review Arthritis Knee Osteoarthritis Turmeric

The meta-analysis results showed that curcuminoids were significantly more effective than comparators regarding visual analogue scale (VAS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) pain scores.

However, no significant difference in pain relief or AEs between the high-dose (daily dose ≥1000 mg or total dose ≥42 gm) and low-dose (daily dose <1000 mg or total dose <42 gm) curcuminoid treatments was observed.

When comparing curcumininoids versus NSAIDs, a significant difference in VAS pain was found. For AE analysis, three of our included studies used NSAIDs as comparators, with all reporting higher AE rates in the NSAID group, though significance was reached in only one study.

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