Curcumin, a compound found in turmeric, has proven effective as a nonpharmacological treatment for a variety of inflammatory diseases, and an increase of glutathione or GSH synthesis. Research has shown that when GSH combines with oxygen, it impairs protein function and can result in fatal respiratory failure.
Looking to evaluate curcumin’s effectiveness in facilitating the normal production of GSH, University of Arizona College team has received a five-year $1.6 million RO1 grant from the National Institutes of Health.
Using Proteomics to develop personalized health strategies to prevent lung injury in model systems, the team hopes to demonstrate that curcumin reverses impaired protein function to restore lung fluid balance.
This project is part of a long-term effort that will elucidate the molecular underpinnings of acute lung injury abd also will test the ability of a water-soluble formulation of curcumin to prevent or treat acute lung injury.