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58/100

✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 58 out of 100. Disparities

Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models

Aims Turmeric extract derived curcuminoids (curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin) are currently being evaluated for the treatment of cancer and Alzheimer's dementia. Previous in vitro studies indicate that curcuminoids and piperine (a black pepper derivative that enhances curcuminoid bioavailability) could inhibit human CYP3A, CYP2C9, UGT and SULT dependent drug metabolism. The aim of this study was to determine whether a commercially available curcuminoid/piperine extract alters the pharmacokinetic disposition of probe drugs for these enzymes in human volunteers. Methods A randomized placebo-controlled six way crossover study was conducted in eight healthy volunteers. A standardized curcuminoid/piperine preparation (4 g curcuminoids plus 24 mg piperine) or matched placebo was given orally four times over 2 days before oral administration of midazolam (CYP3A probe), flurbiprofen (CYP2C9 probe) or paracetamol (acetaminophen) (dual UGT and SULT probe). Plasma and urine concentrations of drugs, metabolites and herbals were measured by HPLC. Subject sedation and electroencephalograph effects were also measured following midazolam dosing. Results Compared with placebo, the curcuminoid/piperine treatment produced no meaningful changes in plasma C(max), AUC, clearance, elimination half-life or metabolite levels of midazolam, flurbiprofen or paracetamol (α = 0.05, paired t-tests). There was also no effect of curcuminoid/piperine treatment on the pharmacodynamics of midazolam. Although curcuminoid and piperine concentrations were readily measured in plasma following glucuronidase/sulfatase treatment, unconjugated concentrations were consistently below the assay thresholds (0.05-0.08 μM and 0.6 μM, respectively). Conclusion The results indicate that short term use of this piperine-enhanced curcuminoid preparation is unlikely to result in a clinically significant interaction involving CYP3A, CYP2C9 or the paracetamol conjugation enzymes.

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APA 7th

Volak, L. P., Hanley, M. J., Masse, G., Hazarika, S., Harmatz, J. S., Badmaev, V., et al. (2013). Effect of a herbal extract containing curcumin and piperine on midazolam, flurbiprofen and paracetamol (acetaminophen) pharmacokinetics in healthy volunteers. British journal of clinical pharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2125.2012.04364.x

Vancouver

Volak LP, Hanley MJ, Masse G, Hazarika S, Harmatz JS, Badmaev V, et al. Effect of a herbal extract containing curcumin and piperine on midazolam, flurbiprofen and paracetamol (acetaminophen) pharmacokinetics in healthy volunteers. British journal of clinical pharmacology. 2013. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2125.2012.04364.x. PMID: 22725836.

BibTeX

@article{volak2013-22725836,
  author  = {Volak, L. P. and Hanley, M. J. and Masse, G. and Hazarika, S. and Harmatz, J. S. and Badmaev, V. and Majeed, M. and Greenblatt, D. J. and others},
  title   = {{Effect of a herbal extract containing curcumin and piperine on midazolam, flurbiprofen and paracetamol (acetaminophen) pharmacokinetics in healthy volunteers}},
  journal = {British journal of clinical pharmacology},
  year    = {2013},
  doi     = {10.1111/j.1365-2125.2012.04364.x},
  pmid    = {22725836},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2125.2012.04364.x}
}

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Key findings

Previous in vitro studies indicate that curcuminoids and piperine (a black pepper derivative that enhances curcuminoid bioavailability) could inhibit human CYP3A, CYP2C9, UGT and SULT dependent drug metabolism.
Results Compared with placebo, the curcuminoid/piperine treatment produced no meaningful changes in plasma C(max), AUC, clearance, elimination half-life or metabolite levels of midazolam, flurbiprofen or paracetamol (α = 0.05, paired t-tests).
Conclusion The results indicate that short term use of this piperine-enhanced curcuminoid preparation is unlikely to result in a clinically significant interaction involving CYP3A, CYP2C9 or the paracetamol conjugation enzymes.

Why it matters

This randomized crossover study in eight healthy volunteers found that a curcuminoid/piperine extract produced no meaningful changes in the pharmacokinetics of midazolam, flurbiprofen, or paracetamol. It is a small drug-interaction study in healthy volunteers and does not test whether curcumin treats or prevents Alzheimer's disease.

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Study details

Evidence strengthHigh

How this study scored 58/100

Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a randomised controlled trial. Scored zero for sample size and effect reported because the record does not state it.

Component	Points	Why
Journal tier	7 / 10	Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (British journal of clinical pharmacology)
Journal's citation record	2 / 4	British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology: journal h-index 221 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29)
Study design	11 / 12	A randomised controlled trial (from PubMed type “Randomized Controlled Trial”)
Strength of evidence	5 / 5	Rated “high” in our summary
Peer-review validation	10 / 10	Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal.
How recent	1 / 5	2013 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here
Sample size	0 / 4	Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Effect reported	0 / 3	No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Studied in people	3 / 3	Studied in people (pubmed indexes it as a clinical or observational study)
Randomised / blinded	2 / 2	Randomised and blinded or placebo-controlled (as stated in the record)
Times cited	4 / 7	Cited 97 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10)
Citations per year	2 / 5	6.5 citations a year over 15 year(s) since 2013
Impact for its field and year	3 / 6	Cited 4.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI)
Cited by studies here	0 / 6	No other study in this library cites it
Still being cited	2 / 4	Cited 25 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex)
Senior author's track record	3 / 4	Last-listed author Michael H. Court: h-index 58 (OpenAlex, whole career)
Institution's track record	1 / 3	Tufts University: institution h-index 1,045 (OpenAlex)
Multi-centre collaboration	0 / 3	OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete)
Indexed in PubMed	2 / 2	Indexed in PubMed (PMID 22725836)
Free to read	0 / 2	Behind a paywall — scores zero
Total	58 / 100	—

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