Curry Derivative Provides Neuroprotection in Stroke and Traumatic Brain Injury

Ischemic stroke is the leading cause of disability and the third leading cause of death of older people in the United States, while traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of death and disability in both civilians and military personnel under the age of 45 years.  In both conditions, those who survive frequently have serious behavioral and memory deficits.  Presently, there is only one FDA-approved treatment for stroke, which is effective only in about 20% of cases; there is no clinically documented treatment for TBI.  Paul Lapchak, from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (California, USA), collaborated with Salk Institute researchers to show that CNB-001, a synthetic derivative of the curcumin, the active ingredient in the curry spice turmeric, proved highly neuroprotective against behavioral and molecular deficits typical of ischemic stroke and TBI, and enhanced memory in normal animals as well.  Writing that: “We conclude that CNB-001 has a great potential for the treatment of ischemic stroke as well as other CNS pathologies,” the researchers are hopeful that this novel compound may prove to have clinical potential in conditions where there is currently no effective treatment.