Curcumin, derived from turmeric, combined with extracts from black pepper and onion skins, may some day help people lose weight, as well as lower their blood sugar, triglycerides, cholesterol, and low-density lipoproteins, shows a new School of Pharmacy and Technology Management study. Because curcumin has limited bioavailability in the body, the researchers combined it with piperine, found in black pepper and quercetin, which is found in onion and some fruit skins, to help make the curcumin more available. In the study, rats fed a daily dose of the combination of curcumin, piperine, and quercetin (CPQ), had lower glucose uptake in their small intestines. “Our findings indicate CPQ significantly decreases glucose transport, causing a decrease in its uptake,” says co-author Ginpreet Kaur. “It is probably due to presence of flavonoids in the combination which get attached to glucose transporters.” Further study is planned to uncover the molecular and cellular mechanism that produced these results. Additionally, human clinical trials are needed to determine if CPQ would have the same benefits for people.
