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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1440327/posts

"In cancer fight, a spice brings hope to the table"
Houston Chronicle ^ | July 11, 2005 | TODD ACKERMAN

Posted on 07/11/2005 1:19:41 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "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."