Colitis Relieving Properties Turmeric Extract BCM-95 Underlined by Study

26 Apr 2017 --- A study has found that while standard curcumin does possess anti-inflammatory properties, BCM-95, a high-potency turmeric extract, is significantly more effective than standard curcumin in reducing colitis related disease activity and inflammatory symptoms. BCM-95 is a proprietary formulation of Arjuna Natural Extracts in a joint venture with Dolcas Biotech LLC and is composed of pure curcuminoids and essential oils from turmeric with a specific content of turmerones.

The study, conducted by researchers at Baylor University, Texas, investigated the anti-inflammatory efficacy and associated gene expression alterations of a BCM-95 in comparison to standard curcumin at three doses (0, 5, 25 or 50 mg/kg) in an imposed animal model of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis.

The study found that both BCM-95 and standard curcumin treatments "provided protection against DSS-induced inflammation.”

However, the essential oil with curcuminoids was found to be significantly more superior to standard curcumin in terms of reducing the disease activity and inflammatory burden in the model, as “ETO-curcumin improved disease activity index (DAI) dose-dependently, while the anti-inflammatory efficacy of standard curcumin remained constant.” 

Moreover, the greater therapeutic efficiency of BCM-95 over standard curcumin in colitis was attributable to properties beyond enhanced bioavailability. “The combination of curcumin with essential turmeric oils appear to exert higher bioactivity than stand-alone curcumin highlighting the importance of other components of turmeric for treatment of large intestinal diseases,” the study concludes.

“For the first time, the enhanced bioactivity of BCM-95 as a result of synergism has been confirmed,” says Benny Antony, PhD, Joint Managing Director for Arjuna. “This new finding provides our customers with an added value for promoting their BCM-95-based formulations in an increasingly crowded curcumin market.”

In BCM-95, this synergy forms a 95% pure, bioactivity enhanced curcumin to create a highly effective turmeric extract with superior bioavailability. “BCM-95 is backed by dozens of clinical research studies that show numerous health benefits,” notes P.J. Kunjachan, Chairman & Managing Director for Arjuna. The therapeutic benefits of turmeric can be attained at its best by combining curcumin with turmerone; an active compound derived from essential oil of turmeric.

The study was published in Scientific Reports in April.