Curry compound as a possible anti-cancer treatment? Scientists think so

2009-10-30 04:06:41 (GMT) (Caymanmama.com - Health News News)

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Curry-based dishes from Karnataka, India.

Denver, Colorado (CaymanMama.com) — Modern science continues to amaze as scientists have identified a molecule found in a curry ingredient that has the power to kill esophageal cancer cells, indicating a promising development in anti-cancer treatment, scientists announced on Wednesday.

Researchers at the Cork Cancer Research Center in Ireland used curcumin to treat esophageal cancer and uncovered its ability to begin killing cancer cells within a short span of only 24 hours.

Curcumin is a chemical compound found in the spice tumeric, which lends the yellow color to curry dishes.

According to a study published in the British Journal of Cancer, the esophageal cancer cells also began the process of digesting themselves.

According to Reuters, “Previous scientific studies have suggested curcumin can suppress tumors and that people who eat lots of curry may be less prone to the disease, although curcumin loses its anti-cancer attributes quickly when ingested.”

Sharon McKenna, lead author of the Irish study, is hopeful that her study will help scientists and researchers to develop an anti-cancer drug using the curcumin findings to treat esophageal cancer.

Cancers of the esophagus kill over 500,000 people worldwide every year.



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