Common spices protect bacteria during irradiation.Tests show that chili powder, pepper and turmeric turmeric: see ginger. turmeric Perennial herbaceous plant (Curcuma longa; family Zingiberaceae), native to southern India and Indonesia. Its tuberous rhizomes have been used from antiquity as a condiment, as a textile dye, and medically as an prevent destruction of E. coli E. coli: see Escherichia coli. E. coli in full Escherichia coli Species of bacterium that inhabits the stomach and intestines. E. coli can be transmitted by water, milk, food, or flies and other insects. . Researchers in India say that these common spices can prevent bacteria, such as E. coli, from being destroyed by irradiation. However, the scientists believe their findings indicate that spice extracts could be used to protect healthy tissue in people undergoing radiation therapy. The research was conducted at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is India's primary nuclear research facility. It has a number of nuclear reactors, all of which are used for India's nuclear power and research program. , Mumbai, India. Its findings are contrary to expectations. The observed protection of microbes may essentially be due to the protection of their DNA DNA: see nucleic acid. DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid One of two types of nucleic acid (the other is RNA); a complex organic compound found in all living cells and many viruses. It is the chemical substance of genes. by the constituents of spices. Chili offered the highest level of protection, followed by black pepper and turmeric. Besides the unexpected finding of the spices' ability to shield bacteria from irradiation, the test-tube study also draws attention to the radioprotective effect of spices. Spices potentially can offer protection to organisms against the damaging effects of gamma radiation, and also offer hope for the development of better radioprotective agents. Two antioxidants Antioxidants Substances that reduce the damage of the highly reactive free radicals that are the byproducts of the cells. Mentioned in: Aging, Nutritional Supplements antioxidants, n. in black pepper and turmeric--piperine and curcumin--apparently helped protect the bacteria's DNA from damage by irradiation during the study. However, these compounds may not be the sole protecting agents present in spices. The findings from the study are not a cause for concern. The irradiation doses routinely used to process prepared foods are high enough to kill any E. coli. Several other food constituents, including some proteins, fats and carbohydrates, also are known to protect microorganisms from decontamination decontamination /de·con·tam·i·na·tion/ (de?kon-tam-i-na´shun) the freeing of a person or object of some contaminating substance, e.g., war gas, radioactive material, etc. de·con·tam·i·na·tion n. by irradiation, as well as by heat and chemicals. The researchers evaluated the spices against two microorganisms during the study: E. coli and B. megaterium. Further information. Arun Sharma, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400 085, India; phone: +91 - 22 -5505050; fax: +91 - 22 - 5505151; URL URL in full Uniform Resource Locator Address of a resource on the Internet. The resource can be any type of file stored on a server, such as a Web page, a text file, a graphics file, or an application program. : www.barc.ernet.in. |
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