Posted by Larry Hoover on December 6, 2002, at 17:57:58
In reply to LARRY re:tumeric , posted by McPac on December 6, 2002, at 16:18:21
> "I just read that curcumin inhibits an inositol pathway in the brain, suggesting it might have direct mood-regulatory effects."
>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>Larry---curcumin "inhibits an inositol pathway in the brain"
>
> What is another word for "inhibits" here (just want to understand what 'inhibits a pathway in the brain" means)...does it mean "enables" or "creates" the pathway?An inhibitor reduces the intensity of a signal, which in this case, is the binding of a neurotransmitter to a receptor. The inhibitor can do so by two different processes, competitive or noncompetitive inhibition. To visualize the two, consider holding something in your hand, where your hand represents the receptor. If the hand is empty, it can grasp something (e.g. the target neurotransmitter), but if it already full (occupied by the inhibitor), you have to let go before you can grab something new. That's how competitive inhibition works, where a non-signalling substance keeps a receptor busy by latching onto it temporarily. A non-competitive inhibitor actual changes the shape of the receptor so it doesn't work as well (or not at all), which could be represented by something holding your hand closed up like a fist, preventing you from grasping something (the neurotransmitter). Curcumin, the stuff in turmeric, non-competitively inhibits inositol receptors, by binding on the side of the receptor and changing its shape.
What does that mean? Well, it depends. Other substances that inhibit the same receptor are ethanol (booze), chlorpromazine (an anti-psychotic), caffeine, magnesium, and some anti-epileptics.
If the receptor is activated, it causes calcium to be released from the neuron, which excites other neurons and facilitates the release of neurotransmitters. So, by blocking calcium release, these inhibitors reduce neuronal activity. That's not inherently good or bad. It all depends on what else is going on.
> More importantly, I know that in some clinical trials that 12 mg. of inositol/daily has had positive theraputic effects on OCD. Could curcumin, based on your findings that "curcumin inhibits an inositol pathway in the brain", be effectively used in combination w/ inositol to further help some OCD sufferers? I would be VERY grateful for any response! THANKS!I couldn't say for sure, but it looks like this effect is counter-productive in OCD and depression. It has recently been found that the mood stabilizers for bipolar disorder, lithium, valproate, and carbemazepine, all reduce inositol-signalling. Trials of inositol as a treatment for depression, panic disorder, and OCD are positive and promising, as are animal models for those disorders. So, an inhibitor probably isn't a good thing to add to the mix. That said, coffee or tea probably does the same thing, and you didn't even know it.
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:130605
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021203/msgs/130817.html