Is Curcumin from Turmeric "The Cure for Cancer"? (Update)
Indian botanist claims to have found the cure for cancer
Curcumin (diferuloylmethane), is one of the most active chemical constituents found in Turmeric or Curcuma longa. Traditionally used in herbal preparations and as a dye and flavoring agent, Curcumin is a polyphenol compound from the group of curcuminoids that is known for its characteristic yellow color, the color we can seen in curry powder, extracted from Turmeric root and used in many traditional culinary Indian recipes, but does it contain the key to cure cancer? Image: Vietnam Plants under Creative Commons license (CC BY 2.0).
CURCUMA LONGA
Family: Zingiberaceae
Genus: Curcuma
Common name: Turmeric, Curcuma longa, Curcuma domestica Valeton.
CURCUMIN FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
As some of you may know, India has the lowest Alzheimer's rate over the world, this may have something to do with the fact that curcumin has been reported as a powerful neuroprotective agent in several clinical studies, being used as a powerful agent against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease [12]. In some clinical experiments done in mice, it was included as part of an anti-Alzheimer’s disease food cocktail [13] for its beneficial effects on cognition, while the use of curcumin in patients with an advance degree of Alzheimer’s disease was disappointing in other clinical trials, probably because it should have been used before sever symptoms appeared [14].
CURCUMIN ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANTI-CANCER PROPERTIES
But these are not the only benefits of curcumin. In other studies and experiments, curcumin exhibited very powerful anti-inflammatory properties [1], probably due to the effect that it has on the activities of cytokines, enzymes and transcription factors linked to inflammation, proving also its potential benefit for the treatment of cancer (Hep3B Liver and MCF-7 Breast Cancers) [1]. Additionally, curcumin induced apoptosis in several types of human SCLC NCI-H446 cells.
But the most surprising is the statement of an Ayurveda indian botanists that claimed to have found the cure for cancer in curcumin used in Ayurvedic treatments (see embedded video below).
CURCUMIN ON ORAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA
A study performed on the cytotoxic effects of Curcumin on oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines, and more specifically on OSCC-4 and OSCC-25 cell lines, showed how curcumin didn't only exert anticancer and antioxidative properties but also an enhanced cytotoxic effect on two oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines (OSCC-4 and OSCC-25) showing damaged and ruptured cells after treatment. Brief exposure to the curcumin-containing micro-emulsions did show cytotoxic effects on those ones, but more surprisingly the addition of ultrasound strongly enhanced those effects, especially on OSCC-25 cell line [16].
CURCUMIN ANTI-MICROBIAL ANTIOXIDANT AND ASTRINGENT PROPERTIES
In spite the main uses of Curcumin included some as divers as stomach and liver ailments, Curcumin exerted remarkable anti-microbial and antioxidant properties, being also a powerful astringent as Witch hazel.
REFERENCES:
[1] Curcumin Decreases Survival of Hep3B Liver and MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells : The Role of HIF. Ströfer M, Jelkmann W, Depping R. Department of Physiology, Center for Structural and Cell Biology in Medicine, University of Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany.
[2] An evidence-based approach to dietary phytochemicals By Jane Higdon
[3] Curcumin Induces Small Cell Lung Cancer NCI-H446 Cell Apoptosis via the Reactive Oxygen Species-Mediated Mitochondrial Pathway and Not the Cell Death Receptor Pathway. Yang CL, Ma YG, Xue YX, Liu YY, Xie H, Qiu GR. Department of Thoracic Surgery, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute , Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
[4] Targeting colon cancer stem cells using a new curcumin analogue, GO-Y030. Lin L, Liu Y, Li H, Li PK, Fuchs J, Shibata H, Iwabuchi Y, Lin J. Center for Childhood Cancer, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43205, USA [2] Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
[5] Curcumin: an anti-inflammatory molecule from a curry spice on the path to cancer treatment. Basnet P, Skalko-Basnet N. Drug Transport and Delivery Research Group, Department of Pharmacy, University of Tromsø, Tromsø N-9037, Norway.
[12] Neuroprotective effects of curcumin. Li Y, Wang P. Herbal Pharmacology Laboratory, Dongzhimen Hospital Affiliated to Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100700, China.
[13] Formulation of a medical food cocktail for Alzheimer's disease: beneficial effects on cognition and neuropathology in a mouse model of the disease. Parachikova A, Green KN, Hendrix C, LaFerla FM. Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America.
[14] Investigational medications for treatment of patients with Alzheimer disease. Potter PE. Department of Pharmacology, Midwestern University/Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, Glendale, Arizona 85308-6813, USA.
[15] Uses of turmeric in dentistry: an update.
Chaturvedi TP.
Division of Orthodontics and General Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Sciences, Institute of Medical Sciences, 4GF Jodhpur Colony, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India
[16] In vitro suppression of oral squamous cell carcinoma growth by ultrasound-mediated delivery of curcumin microemulsions.
Lin HY, Thomas JL, Chen HW, Shen CM, Yang WJ, Lee MH.
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National University of Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
- Tags: ALZHEIMER, ANTI-CANCER, ANTI-INFLAMMATORY, ANTI-MICROBIAL, ANTIOXIDANT, ARABIC: 'Aqîd hindî, ASTRINGENT, AYURVEDA, AYURVEDIC, BENGALI: Halud হলুদ, BONE CANCER, BREAST CANCER, BURMESE: Sa nwin, CANCER, CHINESE: Jiang huang, CHINESE: Jiang huang, Curcuma di Levante, Curcuma long, Curcuma lunga, CURCUMIN, DANISH: Gurkemeje, Dilaw, DUTCH: Geelwortel, ENGLISH: Curcuma, FINNISH: Maustekurkuma, FRENCH: Arrow-root de l'Inde, Gelbwurz, GERMAN: Gelbwurzel, Gilber Ingwer, Gilbwurzel, Guskmeja, Haldi हल्दी, HINDI: Haldii (Haldi), HINDI: Haldar, Huang jiang (Cantonese Wòhng gèung, Hurd, Indaansche saffraan, Indian saffron, Indischer Safran, ITALIAN: Croco indiano, JAPANESE: Taamerikku, KANNADA: Arisina ಅರಿಸಿಣ, Kha mîn chan (Central Thailand), Kha mîn hua (Chiang Mai), Khi min khun, KHMER: Rômiet, Klacze kurkumy, KOREAN: 투메릭, Kunyit betul, Kurkim, Kurkum, Kurkuma, LAOTIAN: Khmin khun, LIVER CANCER, Long rooted curcuma, MALAY: Kunyit, MALAYALAM: Manjal, MALAYAM: PACHA MANJAL, NEPALESE: Besar बॆसार, Nghe, ORAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA, ORIYA: Haladi ହଳଦୀ, OSCC-25, OSCC-4, PERSIAN: Zard-chobah, POLISH: Kurkumal, PORTUGUESE: Açafrão da India, Radice gialla, RUSSIAN: Куркума длинная Kurkuma dlinnaia, Safferano dell Indie, Safran des Indes, Safran du pays, Safran-cooli, SANSKRIT: Haridra हरिद्र, SINHALA: Kaha කහ, SINHALESE: Kaha, SPANISH: Azafrán de la India, SWEDISH: Gurkmeja, TAGALOG: Dilao, TAMIL: Manjal மஞ்சள், TELUGU: Pasupu, THAI: Kha mîn (Khamin), Timmer, TURKISH: Hind zafrani, TURMERIC, Tурмерик Turmerik, Uâtkim, Ukon, VIETNAMESE: Khuong hoàng, Wong keong), Yellow ginger, Yu chiu, Yu jin (Yu chin), Zerdé djavé, Куркума домашняя Kurkuma domashniaia, Куркумы корень Kurkumy koren', ターメリック, 姜黄, 薑黃
