Turmeric has anti-cancer properties, shows research.

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Source:John Wiley & Sons,

Inc.Date:2005-07-11URL:http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/07/050711013142\

..htm

 

Ingredient That Makes Curry Yellow Effective Against Melanoma Cells

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Curcumin, the yellow pigment found in the spice turmeric and a key ingredient in

yellow curry inhibits melanoma cell growth and stimulates tumor cell death,

according to a new study. Published in the August 15, 2005 issue of CANCER, a

peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study also elucidates

curcumin's intracellular mechanisms of action in this type of tumor.

 

As well as showing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, curcumin has been

shown to have anti-cancer properties. In other tumors, it has been demonstrated

to inhibit tumor growth and stimulate apoptosis, an intracellular mechanism for

cells of all types to "kill" themselves. To evaluate the compound's efficacy in

melanoma, researchers led by Razelle Kurzrock, M.D. of the University of Texas

M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston treated three melanoma cell lines with

curcumin at different doses and for different duration.

 

Results show that curcumin treatment decreased cell viability in all three cell

lines in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, curcumin induced apoptosis in tumor

cells at high concentrations for short periods of time and low concentrations

for long periods of time--a new finding in the study of curcumin.

 

Curcumin was found to suppress two specific proteins normally part of an

intracellular pathway that prevents apoptosis when stimulated. Curcumin

partially inhibited NF-êB and strongly inhibited its upstream stimulator and

another independent inhibitor of apoptosis, IKK. However, it did not suppress

two other signaling pathways associated with melanomas and tumor proliferation,

B-Raf/MEK/ERK and Akt pathways.

 

"Based on our studies, we conclude the curcumin is a potent suppressor of cell

viability and inducer of apoptosis in melanoma cell lines," said the authors,

adding "Future investigation to determine the effects of curcumin in animal

models of melanoma and clinical trials are planned."

 

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Article: "Curcumin-Induced Antiproliferative and Proapoptotic Effects in

Melanoma Cells Are Associated with Suppression of IkB Kinase and Nuclear Factor

kB Activity and Are Independent of the B-Raf/Mitogen-Activated/Extracellular

Signal-Regulated Protein Kinase Pathway and the Akt Pathway," Doris R. Siwak,

Shishir Shishodia, Bharat B. Aggarwal, Razelle Kurzrock, CANCER; Published

Online: July 11, 2005 (DOI: 10.1002/cncr.21216); Print Issue August 15,

2005.