New Delhi (PTI): Turmeric, readily used as an antiseptic against cuts, burns and bruises in many Asian countries, could play an important role in preventing diabetes, a new study has revealed.

Scientists of the US-based Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) who conducted a research on the field including tests on two distinct mice models, found that turmeric-treated mice were less prone towards developing Type 2 diabetes.

The scientists led by Drew Tortoriello, an endocrinologist at the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, observed reduced inflammation in fat tissue and liver of the turmeric-fed obese mice.

Tortoriello claims that curcumin, an anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant ingredient found in Turmeric (Curcuma longa) can significantly reduce insulin resistance and prevent Type 2 diabetes in one mouse model and reduce inflammation in fat tissue and liver of the turmeric-fed obese mice.

Researchers tested high-doses of a dietary curcumin in two distinct mice models of obesity: high-fat-diet-fed male mice and leptin-deficient obese female mice, with lean wild-type mice that were fed low-fat diets, used as controls.

The researchers assumed that by suppressing the number and activity of immune cells macrophages with turmeric, it may be possible to reduce some of the adverse consequences of obesity.

Curcumin administration was associated with a small but significant fall in body weight and fat content despite high calorie consumption.