Curcumin is the active compound in the spice turmeric, a common ingredient in curry and the subject of considerable research for its health effects. Curcumin is known for its anti-inflammatory benefits, and some studies have revealed information on potential cancer-preventive benefits for this compound. Curcumin is not a replacement for cancer treatment. Consult your doctor before using curcumin as a component of your cancer therapy.
Cancer Recurrence
Curcumin might prevent recurrence of colon cancer, according to a study published in the April 2011 issue of the journal "Pharmaceutical Research." Colon cancer recurs in 50 percent of patients due in part to chemotherapy resistance developed in some stem cells. In the tissue culture study, curcumin together with the chemotherapy drugs 5-Fluorouracil and oxaliplatin showed a synergistic effect at reducing the numbers of chemotherapy-resistant colon cancer cells. The drug-herb combination inhibited growth, promoted programmed cell death and reduced colonies of cancer cells. The researchers concluded that curcumin shows potential in the prevention of chemotherapy-resistant colon cancer cells.
Delivery System
A study published in the journal "Nanoscale" in January 2011 found curcumin capable of directly killing colon cancer cells. The researchers used nanotechnology -- the manipulation of substances on an atomic or molecular level -- to encapsulate curcumin, which is fat-soluble, and make it more useful in the water-soluble environments of cells. In tissue-culture and laboratory animal tests of the curcumin delivery system, the encapsulated curcumin inhibited colon cancer growth and showed stronger effectiveness than free curcumin. The encapsulated curcumin also decreased blood supply to colon cancer cells by inhibiting blood vessel formation. The researchers concluded that the results of their experiment show that encapsulated curcumin exhibits excellent potential for use as a colon cancer therapy.
Toxicity
High levels of activity against colon cancer as well as toxic effects may occur with curcumin use, according to a study published in the November 2010 issue of the journal "Cancer Letters." The tissue-culture study of several types of colon cancer cells showed that curcumin killed two different colon cancer strains and increased rates of apoptosis, or programmed cell death. However, curcumin also caused DNA damage and showed signs of inducing oxidative stress. The researchers concluded that, overall, despite its promotion of oxidative stress, curcumin was effective at inhibiting colon cancer, and shows good potential for use in the management of colon cancer.
Novel Effects
A study published in the "Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology" in December 2010 reported that curcumin markedly suppressed colon cancer cells and decreased oxidation. In the tissue-culture study, colon cancer cells treated with curcumin showed lower levels of hydrogen peroxide, indicating increased activity of anti-oxidants. Curcumin also influenced certain genes involved in the development of colon cancer. The researchers noted that these effects seem to be a distinguishing feature of curcumin's anti-cancer properties.
References
- "Pharmaceutical Research"; Difluorinated Curcumin (CDF): a Novel Curcumin Analog Is a Potent Inhibitor of Colon Cancer Stemlike Cells; S.S. Kanwar et al.; April 2011
- "Nanoscale"; Curcumin Loaded Biodegradable Polymeric Micelles for Colon Cancer Therapy In Vitro and In Vivo; M. Gou et al.; April 2011
- "Cancer Letters"; Curcumin Causes Superoxide Anion Production and Page 53-Independent Apoptosis in Human Colon Cancer Cells; J.L. Watson et al.; November 2010
- "Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology"; Curcumin Induces Downregulation of E2 F4 Expression and Apoptotic Cell Death in HCT 116 Human Colon Cancer Cells; Involvement of Reactive Oxygen Species; K.C. Kim et al.; December 2010
- Merriam-Webster.com: Nanotechnology
