NEWS: Turmeric component disrupts cancer cells - Organic Consumers A

[Guest guest]

.... Another great argument for dahl and subji and gauranga potatoes! It

would have been interesting to find out if cancer rates are lower in

countries where turmeric is widely used, such as India.

 

Turmeric is also a good blood coagulant. I work in a theater & dance

department, and always keep some on hand for student injuries. Chili

powder will also stop bleeding (amazingly it does not feel hot when you

pour it on) but I prefer turmeric, because I can actually see when the

bleeding has stopped.

 

your servant,

 

Hare Krsna dasi

 

*************************************************

 

Organic Consumers Association 11 July 2005

 

Curry ingredient fights skin cancer - U.S. study

 

 

Source: Reuters

 

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N11508269.htm

 

 

 

WASHINGTON, July 11 (Reuters) - The compound that makes curry yellow

could help fight skin cancer, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.

 

They said curcumin, found in the spice turmeric, interferes with

melanoma cells.

 

Tests in laboratory dishes show that curcumin made melanoma skin cancer

cells more likely to self-destruct in a process known as apoptosis.

 

The same team has found that curcumin helped stop the spread of breast

cancer tumor cells to the lungs of mice.

 

Bharat Aggarwal of the Department of Experimental Therapeutics at the

University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and

colleagues treated three batches of melanoma cells, known as cell lines,

with curcumin at different doses and for varying times.

 

The curcumin suppressed two proteins that tumor cells use to keep

themselves immortal, the researchers write in next month's issue of the

journal Cancer.

 

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

of cell viability and inducer of apoptosis in melanoma cell lines,"

Aggarwal's team wrote.

 

"Future investigation to determine the effects of curcumin in animal

models of melanoma and clinical trials are planned."

 

Earlier research has shown that curcumin, which acts as an antioxidant,

can help prevent tumors from forming in the laboratory.

 

Aggarwal said people who eat plenty of turmeric have lower rates of some

cancers, although the spice itself has not been shown to reduce cancer

risk in people.