Turmeric has been an integral part of Indian kitchen for ages. But now, researchers from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) suggest that people on antibiotics should avoid turmeric for fast recovery.
A study conducted by the Centre for Infectious Disease Research and Biosafety Laboratories, IISc, Bengaluru, reveals that curcumin, an active chemical substance found in turmeric, interferes with the efficacy of antibiotics like ciprofloxacin. Thus, antibiotics lose their ability to fight harmful bacteria. The IISc team tested ciprofloxacin against typhoid bacteria in the presence of curcumin.
Ciprofloxacin is the first line drug to treat typhoid.
Turmeric has gained importance in treating diseases, as a food additive and preservative. Many consume turmeric tablets as a daily dietary supplement. Some even have the spice to benefit from the curative properties of curcumin. Moreover, haldi is added in Indian dishes.
The IISc team demonstrated that curcumin inhibited the action of ciprofloxacin by not preventing the ciprofloxacin-induced cleavage of DNA.
The study was published in the latest issue of the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.
Curcumin is a major dietary molecule among Indians and on an average, a person takes 0.03 to 0.12 gm per day.
**Editor's note: More research is needed to confirm what this article reports. It should be noted there is some criticism of it and the basis of the researchers conclusions.**
