BBC
An extract found in the bright yellow curry spice
turmeric can kill off cancer cells, scientists have shown.
The chemical--curcumin--has long been thought to have
healing powers and is already being tested as a treatment for arthritis and
even dementia.
Now tests by a team at the Cork Cancer Research Centre
show it can destroy gullet cancer cells in the lab.
Dr Sharon McKenna and her team found that curcumin
started to kill cancer cells within 24 hours.
The cells also began to digest themselves, after the
curcumin triggered lethal cell death signals.
Dr McKenna said: "Scientists have known for a
long time that natural compounds have the potential to treat faulty cells that
have become cancerous and we suspected that curcumin might have therapeutic
value."
Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information at
Cancer Research UK, said: "This is interesting research which opens up the
possibility that natural chemicals found in turmeric could be developed into
new treatments for oesophageal cancer.
"Rates of oesophageal cancer have gone up by more
than a half since the 70s and this is thought to be linked to rising rates of
obesity, alcohol intake and reflux disease so finding ways to prevent this
disease is important too."
Each year around 7,800 people are diagnosed with
oesophageal cancer in the UK. It is the sixth most common cause of cancer death
and accounts for around five percent of all UK cancer deaths.
