Posted on 07/11/2005 1:19:41 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, the epitome of the conventional cancer establishment, is reporting promising test results on an unconventional weapon: a common spice used in Indian cooking.
In a host of studies, M.D. Anderson researchers are showing that curcumin, the pungent yellow spice in both turmeric and curry powders, has potent anti-cancer properties. They say it may prove effective for both prevention and treatment.
"Curcumin's promise is enormous," said Bharat B. Aggarwal, a professor of cancer medicine in M.D. Anderson's department of experimental therapeutics.
"It appears to inhibit multiple pathways by which cancer grows, and we know it's nontoxic."
Aggarwal added that "in a day when Vioxx and Bextra are off the table, curcumin may be one of the best new hopes on the table" — a reference to popular painkillers (Cox-2 inhibitors) taken off the market after reports they increased the risk of heart disease. Cox-2 inhibitors were considered potential cancer prevention agents because they'd been shown to inhibit tumor growth.
The latest study on curcumin is available today on the journal Cancer's Web site.
In it, M.D. Anderson researchers demonstrate in the laboratory how curcumin stops melanoma cells from proliferating along two key pathways and induces them to essentially commit suicide. The cells were taken from patients.
A month ago, the same researchers reported that in mice, curcumin helped stop the spread of breast cancer to the lungs. It outperformed the cancer drug Taxol in the study, though the best results came with a combination of curcumin and Taxol.
Putting it to the test The results of those studies have led to ongoing Phase I human trials at M.D. Anderson testing curcumin's ability to stop the growth of pancreatic cancer and multiple myeloma.
Still to come are a human trial for breast cancer and an animal trial for melanoma.
Elsewhere, researchers are studying curcumin with lung, colon, head and neck, oral and prostate cancers.
Aggarwal said the thing distinguishing curcumin from other natural products touted for their medicinal properties is the science behind it.
Herbs such as garlic, saw palmetto and gingko may receive more ink, but there have been about 2,000 studies on curcumin, says Aggarwal, easily more than any other natural product.
It is rich in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic properties.
Most intriguing, the rate of colon, breast, prostate and lung cancer is 10 times lower in India than in the United States.
Financial obstacles In the melanoma study, the M.D. Anderson team found curcumin shut down nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB), a powerful protein known to promote an abnormal inflammatory response that leads to a variety of disorders, including arthritis and cancer; the protein known as IKK that switches NF-kB "on;" and STAT3, another pathway involved in the spread of tumors.
Aggarwal noted that the greatest obstacle to further study of curcumin is financial. No pharmaceutical company is likely to develop a natural product that can't be patented so the only sources of funding are government agencies.
Curcumin is available in capsule form at health food stores, though the purity of some brands may be in question because herbs aren't regulated. Aggarwal's team worked with a 96 percent pure product.
"Curcumin's efficacy for treating cancer is still to be proven," Aggarwal said. "But I would recommend it for prevention right now, based on animal studies. People have been eating it for thousands of years so we know it's safe."
• Ground from the root of the Curcuma longa plant, curcumin is a member of the ginger family.
• It has long had multiple uses in India and other Asian nations: food preservative, folk medicine, coloring agent, body cleanser and food flavorer (2 to 5 percent of turmeric is curcumin, for instance).
todd.ackerman@chron.com
You made me think.
Thank you.
Absolutely. If I had realized years ago what I was putting into my body (Pepsi, candy, cookies, cakes, pasta by the bowlful), I hope I would have changed my habits. I was hooked on Pepsi. I weighed 205 pounds before I got through. Now I'm diabetic with renal failure, had to have open heart surgery, etc., etc. I'm making changes but I still need to do more (like--ugghh--exercise). I don't want to end up sitting in a nursing home, drool running down my chin, eyes glazed over and yelling out curses on those who walk by. Beam me up, Scotty, before that happens.
A lot of six-figure fundraising and administrative positions would be down the drain, wouldn't they? :-)
Boy, does this sound familiar. Diet Pepsi (among the other goodies) were the culprit with my wife. After reading up on aspertame, she stopped cold turkey. That ALONE resulted in a weight loss of twenty to twenty-five pounds. (That southern sweet tea didn't help, either.) When we returned to the People's Republic of New England, she was 'diagnosed' with Type II diabetes. Fortunately, we were both aware of the alternative options, so my wife pushed for a referral to a nutritionist. Good move. The doctor just wanted to throw all the traditional medications at her symptoms. (What else is new?) The nutritionist drafted a menu for her (basically eliminating white bread, sugars of any kind, and restricting carbohydrates.) In THREE months; she dropped ANOTHER thirty pounds, and got all her blood sugar levels down to the normal range. She went to the doctor, who AGAIN recommended several medications WITHOUT even consulting the chart to look at what she had accomplished!!! She insisted he review her NEW weight and glucose levels. After expressing his astonishment, he 'concluded' that she could do WITHOUT medication. KMA, pharmaceutical cartel...you'll have to get by without OUR money. Re: exercise...just try to go for a short twenty-minute walk in the evening. VERY good for you. :-)
bump
Nitrates -- I think that's supposed to be the culprit in bacon.
That would be sodium nitrites...you'll find it listed on almost any packaged meat product; hot dogs, pepperoni, bologna, bacon, and so forth. Nasty stuff. (Usually listed last among the ingredients...)
People don't realize that splenda, aspartame and all those sweeteners actually INCREASE your desire for sweets. My blood sugars are around 200-240 even in the morning so I have to make up my mind and soon to cut back on those wonderful, delicious CARBS. How I love them. But I agree, walking would be the best thing for me. Around Christmas I went shopping and walking around the stores every day or so for a couple of weeks and my blood sugars went down to 120 or less. I'm so lazy. But I'm working my way up to doing it. Thanks for the response. Love, Maryxxx
I prefer beef vindaloo with a side of nan.
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