title: Urine and serum analysis of consumed curcuminoids using an IkappaB-luciferase surrogate marker assay.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  curcumin metabolites are detectable in body fluids such as serum and urine. We have developed a novel assay that can detect metabolites in such body fluids by measuring their effect on the nuclear factor kappa B/inhibitor of kappa B (NF-κB/IκB) pathway.
  
  
  METHODS
  fifteen healthy individuals were enrolled in the study and randomly assigned to two groups: control group (five) and curcumin group (ten). The test group ingested 8 g of the curcuminoids (C(3)-Complex) with 16 oz of bottled water. Blood and urine were collected at 0, 4, 8, and 24 h after ingestion. Degradation of the NF-κB/IκB complex was detected by the Genetic Expression and Measurement (GEM) assay using HCT116 cells stably transfected with PGL3-IκB firefly luciferase.
  
  
  RESULTS
  using our novel GEM assay, the five controls who had not taken curcumin were identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the GEM assay is a very sensitive and accurate non-invasive assay that could be utilized to detect metabolites in body fluids. It could also serve as a tool to determine participants' compliance during clinical research studies.
authors.affiliation: 800 Research Parkway Suite 350, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, U.S.A. ramar@swaasth.com.
authors.forename: Sivapriya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ponnurangam
authors.forename: Fadee G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Mondalek
authors.forename: Janita
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Govind
authors.forename: Dharmalingam
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Subramaniam
authors.forename: Courtney W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Houchen
authors.forename: Shrikant
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anant
authors.forename: Panayotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pantazis
authors.forename: Rama P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Ramanujam
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D003474:Curcumin / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D045325:HCT116 Cells; D006801:Humans; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D049409:Luciferases, Firefly / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D049409:Luciferases, Firefly; D003474:Curcumin