Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Curry spice 'kills cancer cells'

Posted by Dr Prahallad Panda on 9:37 PM Comments

Turmeric.

It is long held in India that turmeric has much more healing power, starting from skin diseases to intestinal ailment. In the childhood, I have seen application of a paste of turmeric to our body. A paste of raw turmeric is also eaten to cure intestinal parasites. It is used in many cosmetics in India. Also, It is an essential ingredient of spices to be used in cooking.

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk

Curry spice 'kills cancer cells'

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.

Cancer experts said the findings in the British Journal of Cancer could help doctors find new treatments.

Dr Sharon McKenna and her team found that curcumin started to kill cancer cells within 24 hours.

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.