Originally published August 21 2005
Scientists want to study anti-cancer properties in curry
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Scientists have found that turmeric, a main ingredient in curry spice, could help prevent cancer, and they now hope to conduct human trials of turmeric in tablet form.
This would involve giving volunteers 500mg tablets of the constituent known as curcumin each day for a week to see whether it inactivates the NF-kappaB protein which plays a key role in Barrett's oesophagus, a pre-cancerous condition, and oesophageal cancer.
Article continues The work at Swansea University's school of medicine and the Morriston hospital in the city builds on a growing body of worldwide evidence that turmeric, powder from a plant of the ginger family, can help stave off cancers such as leukaemia, prostate cancer, skin cancer and colon cancer.
A team in America is hoping human trials could help lead to the development of a drug against Alzheimer's disease, while others hope its anti-inflammatory properties might also protect against Crohn's disease.
Lower levels of some similar conditions among people living in Asia first sparked the interest in investigating whether curry has protective properties.
Barrett's oesophagus is a condition in which long-standing inflammation of the gullet leads to changes in the cells lining the gullet.
The Swansea team, which has previously found that increased NF-kappaB has helped tumour cells develop in several cancers of the gastro-intestinal tract, have been investigating how different substances with reputed anti-cancer properties deal with the protein.
Vitamin E and a chemical found in broccoli were far less successful.
But rushing to the curry-house and washing the meal down with wine, will not be the way forward, says Gareth Jenkins, a lead researcher in the project.
Despite the fact that a number of spicy foods have recently also been found to contain illegal and potentially cancerous ingredients such as Sudan 1 and Para Red, too much drinking increases the risk of gullet cancer.
Laboratory tests have suggested 24-hour treatment of cells with curcumin almost totally blocks the protein.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml