4 Ways to Protects From Damaging Effects Of Smoking by Curcuma Longa [2022 UPDATED]

4 Ways to Protects From Damaging Effects Of Smoking by Curcuma Longa

[2022 UPDATED]

by Shruti (BE Biotech. & PGD Clinical Research)

Smoking has been a common practice for more than a century now.Even though it has lethal side-effects, there has been no decrease in the number of people smoking. Instead, the number has been growing regularity.

Smoking is inhaling the smoke from a burnt substance like tobacco.The dried leaves of tobacco are smoked in the form of a cigarette, hookah, pipe, cigar, etc. In the case of cigarettes, tobacco is mixed with aerosol particles and nicotine.On smoking, these aerosols are heated along with tobacco and nicotine and inhaled deep into the lungs. In the lungs, these harmful components are absorbed into the bloodstream.

Nicotine is a stimulant compound found in tobacco plant (Nicotiana tabacum) and related plants. 0.6-3% of tobacco is made up of nicotine and an average cigarette provides 2mg of nicotine that can be absorbed.Nicotine is associated with lung damage, cardiovascular problems, birth defects, etc.

Nicotine is one of the principal components of cigarette smoke.It is an addictive substance which affects the brain reward system.When nicotine enters the blood from the lungs, it raises blood pressure, constricts the arteries and reduces oxygen supply.Also carbon monoxide that accompanies nicotine reduces the blood’s oxygen carrying capacity.

Nicotine also causes inflammation and spasm in the muscles of the airway leading to asthma and inflammatory conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder.

Nicotine does not cause lung cancer but it protects and enhances the growth of lung cancer cells.

4 Benefits Of Turmeric In Smoking/Nicotine induced damage

Curcumin present in turmeric has strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties which it utilises to protect lungs from nicotine-induced damage.

1. Turmeric reduces nicotine toxicity in lungs

Nicotine-induced lung toxicity impairs the antioxidant status of the body. This is marked by a decrease in antioxidant enzymes and increased lipid peroxidation.

Lipid peroxidation is a natural process occurring in the body but when it is uncontrolled it causes disease and damage.

It is the destruction of essential fats present in the cell membrane by reactive oxygen species which leads to cell death and tissue damage.

Animal study shows that curcumin and its related compound reduce lipid peroxidation and raise the level of antioxidant enzymes while restoring minerals to normal levels.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15671691/

This entire phenomenon is known as oxidative stress (imbalance between pro-oxidant and antioxidant agents).

Curcumin, as an antioxidant, ameliorates such as nicotine-induced oxidative stress.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15646012/

What does this mean? Curcumin is a strong antioxidant and it uses this pharmacological property in protecting lungs from nic