Inhibitory effect of curcumin on intestinal gas formation by Clostridium perfringens.

Curcumin, the pigment of turmeric (Curcuma longa), added at 0.005, 0.015, 0.025, 0.035 or 0.05% to brain/heart infusion decreased gas formation in vitro by Clostridium perfringens of intestinal origin; no gas was produced when curcumin concentration was 0.05% but curcumin did not inhibit gas formation when ferric chloride was added to the medium. In Wistar rats given a diet where chickpea replaced maize starch and casein with 0.05, 0.1, 0.2 or 0.5% curcumin intestinal gas formation was suppressed considerably at 0.1% or more curcumin when ferric chloride was included in the diet.