The book National Solutions for Cancer extensively reviewed scientific studies on anti-cancer herbs. One of the herbs studied was turmeric. Traditionally, turmeric has been used to treat skin, gastrointestinal, autoimmune, liver, eye, and other disorders. Turmeric is said to relieve allergies, gall bladder ailments, edema, tumors, and cataracts. Its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties are used to treat inflammations and infections.
Curcumin is turmeric’s yellow pigment and has been used as medicine for centuries. Curcuminoids have been extracted from turmeric (Prasad et al., 2014).
The chemical composition of turmeric has been studied. The most important chemical components of turmeric are a group of compounds called curcuminoids, which include curcumin (diferuloylmethane), desmethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin. Curcumin constitutes 3.14% (on average) of powdered turmeric and gives the spice its peppery taste.
Curcumin is poorly absorbed into the bloodstream. Black pepper substantially enhances the absorption of curcumin. Ayurvedic physicians and nutritionists recommend mixing a pinch of turmeric in milk at bedtime. This is said to help build immunity and is beneficial against multiple other ailments.
A pharmacological review was undertaken by Ammon & Wahl (1991), Jurenka (2009), and others to validate curcumin’s anti-inflammatory properties. Curcumin, the active compound in the spice, exhibits antispasmodic activity. It was seen to stimulate bile secretion in animals and help treat liver disorders.
Araujo and Leon (2001), Anand et al. (2007), and Aggarwal et al. (2009) have noted the anti-cancer, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and gastrointestinal actions of curcumin. It is also helpful in treating liver and other ailments.
Anti-cancer properties of turmeric have also been reported (Basnet et al., 2011). Jagetia and Aggarwal of the Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA, writes, “Interestingly, curcumin at low doses can also enhance antibody responses. This suggests that curcumin’s reported beneficial effects in arthritis, allergy, asthma, atherosclerosis, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and cancer might partly be due to its ability to modulate the immune system.”
Curcumin boosts BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), a protein and brain hormone that increases the growth of new neurons and fights various degenerative processes in the brain.
Researchers from the Cancer Biology Research Center, South Dakota, claim that curcumin may be an effective chemopreventive and therapeutic agent for cervical cancer prevention and treatment. They found that curcumin treatment suppresses growth in cervical cancer cells by altering the HPV-associated molecular pathways. Basic research appears to validate curcumin’s ability to suppress several cancer stages.
It is believed to potentially treat Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, and chronic illnesses. Stage 2, and in some cases, stage 3 clinical trials are underway to validate turmeric’s anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-Alzheimer properties (Cole et al., 2007).
The anti-cancer action of curcumin is attributed to its ability to inhibit a cancer master switch called nuclear factor kappa beta. Inflammation is said to fuel the activity of nuclear factor kappa beta, which is claimed to account for 95% of all cancers. Cancer activity is also indicated by high levels of interleukin 6 (IL6) in the blood.
Cancerous lesions have been found to show a reduction in smell, itching, size, and pain when an ointment of curcumin (the main ingredient of turmeric) is applied (Kuttan et al., 1987).
Preclinical and phase 1 clinical trial in various cancers have shown that curcumin (isolated from turmeric) may be useful in the chemoprevention of colon cancer in humans (Azuine & Bhide, 1994). It has further been shown that curcumin inhibits proliferation and helps kill cancer cells. These are attributed to the ability of this molecule to positively interfere with the functioning of cancer-causing genes (Bar-Sela & Schaffer, 2011).
Ar turmerone isolated from turmeric is said to suppress the growth of leukemia cells (Kuo et al., 1996). The anti-cancer action of curcumin is attributed to its ability to inhibit a cancer master switch called nuclear factor kappa beta. Inflammation is said to fuel the nuclear factor kappa beta activity, which is claimed to account for 95% of all cancers. Cancer activity is also indicated by high blood interleukin 6 (IL6) levels.
Stage 2 and, in some cases, stage 3 clinical trials are underway to validate turmeric’s anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-Alzheimer properties (Cole et al., 2007). Turmeric is emerging as a possible anti-cancer herb.
It has further been shown that curcumin inhibits proliferation and helps kill cancer cells. These are attributed to the ability of this molecule to positively interfere with the functioning of cancer-causing genes (Bar-Sela & Schaffer, 2011).
Ar turmerone isolated from turmeric is said to suppress the growth of leukemia cells (Kuo et al., 1996).
I did not find any scientific evidence supporting the anti-cancer properties of Azadirachta indica (common name neem). It is also not listed in anti-cancer herbs in Ayurvedic formulations.
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