Could curry conquer cancer? That’s the question on the minds of researchers delving into the topic of curcumin and tumor growth. Curcumin is a component of one of the spices used to create curry. Traditional Asian medicine has used curry in treatment of a range of maladies for centuries. Modern science is exploring curcumin as a possible weapon in the growing arsenal of cancer-fighting substances. Talk with your doctor before using any supplement, especially if you have health problems or take other medicines.
Curcumin
Curcumin is the active ingredient in turmeric, the powdered root of the Curcuma longa plant. Turmeric is a high-profile ingredient in East Indian cuisine, and gives curry its warm golden color. According to Dr. Timothy J. Moynihan of MayoClinic.com, the curcumin found in turmeric has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that suggest it may be helpful in fighting cancer.
Chemosensitizer
Numerous studies have focused on curcumin’s cancer-fighting potential. According to the journal “Nutrition and Cancer,” curcumin makes tumors more sensitive to chemotherapy and radiation, making them more susceptible to these forms of cancer treatment. The journal suggests that use of curcumin as a chemosensitizer would allow these therapies to be more effective at lower dosages, which would be less toxic to healthy tissue.
Brain Tumor Prevention
Curcumin can pass through the blood-brain barrier, a defensive shield that keeps many substances from entering the brain. A study published in “Brain Research” in 2009 reported that laboratory tests of curcumin found that it activates substances that kill both brain and lung cancer tumors. The study determined that curcumin both prevents brain tumor formation and kills brain tumor cells. Though these studies are promising, they were performed in test tubes, not on patients. More research is needed to confirm the effects of curcumin in live patients.
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is cautiously optimistic regarding the effects of curcumin on tumors. The society acknowledges that laboratory studies have shown promising results: Curcumin has the ability to kill cancer cells in lab dishes and reduce the growth of surviving cells. Curcumin is also known to interfere with molecular processes related to cancer growth and development. Human studies are in their early stages as researchers strive to determine what dosage of curcumin is tolerable without causing adverse effects.
References
- American Cancer Society: Turmeric
- "Brain Research"; Curcumin Blocks Brain Tumor Formation; Sudarshana Purkayastha, et al.; February 2009
- "Nutrition and Cancer"; Curcumin, the Golden Spice From Indian Saffron, Is a Chemosensitizer and Radiosensitizer for Tumors and Chemoprotector and Radioprotector for Normal Organs; Ajay Goel, et al.; 2010
- Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University; Curcumin; Jane Higdon; November 2005
- MayoClinic.com; Can Curcumin Slow Cancer Growth?; Timothy J. Moynihan, M.D.; December 2009
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