Curcumin (Curcuma longa) has recently seen and increase in attention from the western medical community because of its herbal antioxidant properties , especially due to the fact that it combats free radicals, and due to its anti-inflammatory supplement properties because helps to reduce irritation to tissues characterized by pain, redness, swelling, and heat.

Curcumin has a molecular formula that is similar to other plant pigments called polyphenols (chemicals containing multiple “phenol” groups). These phytonutrients (plant-based nutrients) have been demonstrated to have herbal antioxidant properties, and anti-inflammatory supplement properties. Other polyphenolic compounds include catechins from green tea extract, resveratrol from grape seed extract, quercetin from apples, and luteolin from celery. Their herbal antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory supplement properties have all been researched for possible medicinal or preventive value.

Curcumin has also received attention in the medical research community as a treatment for Alzheimer’s prevention. A major factor in the development of Alzheimer’s disease is the development of beta amyloid plaque in the brain. Curcumin holds out hope that it can directly bind to beta amyloid plaque and help the immune system (microglia) remove amyloid protein. In animal models that replicate Alzheimer’s prevention, treatment with curcumin reduced the levels of beta-amyloid by 40 percent compared with mice not treated with curcumin.

 Medical researchers have discovered that the use of vitamins E and C may offer assistance with Alzheimer’s prevention when taken together in higher doses.

 Bioperine is included in Neurcumin™ because it safely enhances the absorption and bioavailability of other nutritional supplements. Specifically, Bioperine improves the bioavailability of vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin E, folic acid, coenzyme Q10, and curcumin. In fact, the concomitant administration of Bioperine increases the bioavailability of curcumin by 2000%, making it a stronger agent in stroke prevention and Alzheimer’s prevention. Multiple double-blind clinical studies have validated that Bioperine improves the absorption of other nutrients. This means that the efficacy of Neurcumin™ is greatly multiplied as a “neuro booster”, herbal antioxidant, anti-inflammatory supplement, and herbal memory booster.

 Alpha lipoic acid is a powerful “neuro booster” in animal models. It protects neurons from free radical damage caused by both beta amyloid and free radicals (hydrogen peroxide). A small human study showed it delayed Alzheimer’s disease progression when subjects were given alpha lipoic acid for one year, making it a promising instrument in Alzheimer’s prevention. This study confirmed alpha lipoic acid supplementation appeared to significantly lower Alzheimer’s disease compared to untreated patients, or patients on choline-esterase inhibitors. The authors concluded “that treatment with alpha lipoic acid might be a successful neuroprotective therapy”. Moreover, other publications have indicated that alpha lipoic acid has a positive effect in the treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease, and holding out hope for the far reaching goal of Alzheimer’s prevention.

and Neurologic Conditions. Researchers have discovered that coenzyme Q10 can avert and even out mitochondrial abnormalities. Mitochondrial abnormalities have been verified in several age-related disorders and are particularly prominent within both Alzheimer’s prevention and Parkinson’s disease patients. Currently, there are no published controlled clinical trials of Coenzyme Q10 in Alzheimer’s prevention.

Grape Seed Extract as an Herbal Antioxidant Versus Vitamin C and Vitamin E. The herbal antioxidant properties (i.e., free radical quenching abilities) of grape seed PCOs are 20 times greater than those of vitamin C and 50 times greater than those of vitamin E. Although water soluble, grape seed PCOs can still cross the blood-brain barrier and protect the brain from free radical damage. One of the important factors leading to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) is the oxidation of LDL-cholesterol. Thus, if we can prevent the oxidation of LDL-cholesterol, we, theoretically, can prevent hardening of the arteries. Vitamin E is a powerful inhibitor of the oxidation of LDL-cholesterol. Yet, PCOs found in GSE are 50 times stronger than vitamin E as an herbal antioxidant. PCOs reduce the aggregation of platelets, thereby having a defensive role in the prevention of blood clots and stroke prevention.

Grape Seed Extract and Stroke Prevention. PCOs and Stroke PCOs also assist in stroke prevention by escalating red blood cell pliability, reducing blood viscosity and improving fibrinolytic activity. These properties result in greater blood flow, better oxygenation to ischemic (low blood flow) areas, and prevention of thromboembolic activity. PCOs advance blood vessel wall elasticity and lower blood pressure. PCOs help to even out the blood-brain barrier. By fighting off atherosclerosis and hypertension, PCOs provide further enhancement for stroke prevention. Grape seed proanthocyanidins bestow more protection against lipid peroxidation than does vitamin C, vitamin E or beta-carotene. The herbal antioxidant abilities of PCOs protect the skin from ultraviolet radiation damage.

Grape seed extract PCOs serve as neuroprotective agents in stroke prevention, not only because they guard blood vessels but also because they are among the few dietary herbal antioxidants that readily cross the blood-brain barrier. Their hemodynamic, free radical scavenging, and cholesterol-lowering characteristics help with stroke prevention. They maintain blood vessel health, improve blood supply to the brain, serving as a real “brain booster,” and reduce the viscosity of blood, which has been implicated as a contributory factor for stroke, thus assisting with stroke prevention. They further prevent vascular injury by strengthening blood vessel walls. This is of particular significant to diabetics since they are particularly prone to vascular fragility. By readily traversing the blood-brain barrier, they are able to reduce injuries related to oxidative stress from free radicals and aid in recuperation from free radical damage. By preventing beta amyloid accumulation in the brain cells, they may also thwart the formation of toxic plaques that interupt normal brain function in Alzheimer’s disease, helping with Alzheimer’s prevention.