Curcumin is a member of the ginger family. Its roots contain turmeric, which gives the popular Indian spice its bright yellow pigment. In cancer research studies, curcumin has been found to have beneficial effects against breast cancer. According to Timothy Moynihan, M.D., research suggests that curcumin has antioxidant properties and may help prevent or treat cancer by decreasing inflammation, which plays a role in cancer.
Curcumin and Breast Cancer Cells
A study published in the Oct. 15, 2005, issue of "Clinical Cancer Research" found that curcumin prevents the progression of breast cancer cells. It also reverses the negative side-effects of Taxol -- a breast cancer drug that can cause breast cancer cells to spread. According to laboratory and animal research, curcumin may slow angiogenesis, the growth of blood vessels. When the blood vessels are restricted, the cancer tumor does not have a pathway to receive its nutrition. Without its source of energy, the cancer cell dies.
Effect on Cancer Cells
Spontaneous cell death is called apoptosis and is the body's innate way of destroying abnormal cancerous cells. Because curcumin works at the cellular level, it encourages cancerous cells to self-destruct so they are not able to continue to grow and multiply. Curcumin identifies cancer cells by their abnormal chemistry and helps the immune system with the process of apoptosis.
Immunity and Antioxidant Activity
Curcumin assists the body in the fight against cancer by stimulating the immune system. Certain immune cells -- T-helper and B type lymphocytes -- were measured to be greater in number after the ingestion of curcumin. Curcumin, supplemented orally at 3.6 g per day for seven days, was found to decrease the number of oxidative -- or destructive and cancer-causing -- DNA molecules in tissue samples, suggesting that curcumin is capable of preventing or reversing DNA damage.
Adverse Side Effects
As more clinical trial studies are conducted, curcumin continues to show promise. At this point the question of bio-availability is a concern -- in other words, scientists are not aware of how much curcumin has to be taken for it to have an effect on the cancer tissues. Curcumin has a blood-thinning effect and is not recommended for people taking blood thinners. Consult with your oncologist, as curcumin may reduce the effectiveness of certain chemotherapy drugs.
