Turmeric, or Curcuma longa, is used in a variety of cuisines and is one of the essential spices in curry. With a bright orange hue reminiscent of the more expensive saffron, turmeric can be used sparingly as a saffron substitute in some dishes. Scientific research has revealed potential health benefits of turmeric for a variety of conditions, including cancer and blood pressure disorders. Consult your doctor before using turmeric to treat a health condition.
Colon Cancer
Turmeric inhibits colon cancer, say authors of a study published in the February 2011 journal "Cancer Biotherapy and Radiopharmaceuticals." In the tissue culture study, curcumin, the active constituent of turmeric, induced apoptosis -- programmed cell death -- in colon cancer cells. The researchers concluded that turmeric may be a useful herb in the treatment of colon cancer.
Bile Duct Cancer
Turmeric inhibits bile duct cancer through multiple pathways, say authors of a study published in the February 2011 issue of "Carcinogenesis." Among the anti-cancer effects observed in the study, curcumin abolished a cancer-promoting protein, inhibited a gene that promotes cell growth in cancer cells, activated receptors that promote cell death and inhibited a cell survival protein, known as survivin. The researchers concluded that turmeric exerts effective anti-cancer benefits against bile duct cancer and urged further studies on turmeric's anti-cancer activity.
Blood Pressure Normalizing Effects
Vascular dysfunction improves with turmeric use, according to a study published in the August 2009 "European Journal of Pharmacology." Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties of turmeric translate to reduced oxidative stress on the linings of arteries. In the study, scientists gave laboratory animals that had been induced to have low blood pressure and heart rate, 50 mg or 100 mg per kg body weight of curcumin. The turmeric extract restored blood pressure and heart rate to normal levels. The researchers noted that this study was the first to demonstrate protective effects of turmeric for this type of vascular dysfunction.
Blood Pressure Reducing
A study published in the July 2009 "Journal of Ethnopharmacology" demonstrated the effects of turmeric on blood pressure and heart rate. The researchers used doses of 10 mg, 20 mg and 30 mg per kg body weight of turmeric extract and observed up to 23 percent decrease in heart rate and 27 percent decrease in blood pressure in the study animals. Additionally, turmeric extract induced vasodilation of main arteries in the intestines. The researchers concluded that turmeric provides significant cardiovascular benefits.
References
- "Cancer Biotherapy and Radiopharmaceuticals"; Aqueous Extract of Curcuma Aromatica Induces Apoptosis and G2/M Arrest in Human Colon Carcinoma LS-174-T Cells Independent of p53; Hu B, et al.; 2011
- "Carcinogenesis"; Curcumin Suppresses Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis in Human Biliary Cancer Cells Through Modulation of Multiple Cell Signaling Pathways; Prakobwong S, et al.; 2011
- "European Journal of Pharmacology"; Curcumin Improves Vascular Function and Alleviates Oxidative Stress in Non-lethal Lipopolysaccharide-induced Endotoxaemia in Mice; Sompamit K, et al.; 2009
- "Journal of Ethnopharmacology"; Hypotensive and Endothelium-independent Vasorelaxant Effects of Methanolic Extract from Curcuma Longa L. in Rats; Adaramoye OA, et al.; 2009
