More research verifies powerful anti-cancer properties of turmeric

More research verifies powerful anti-cancer properties of turmeric


(NaturalNews) A growing body of research continues to pile up, showing
that turmeric and its naturally occurring compounds have potent
anti-cancer properties.

Turmeric root is one of the most
important spices and traditional medicines across vast sections of Asia,
and has been for hundreds of years. Scientists attribute many of
turmeric's health benefits to the trio of naturally occurring chemicals
known as curcuminoids, which give the root its characteristic
yellow-orange color. The name curcumin, which technically refers to only
one of the curcuminoids, is sometimes also used to refer to the entire
group.

Although many studies have been performed on curcumin
rather than on turmeric root itself, it is important to note that the
body absorbs curcumin much more effectively from the root than from
supplements.

Reviewing the data

As early as 1996, enough
research had been conducted on the cancer-fighting benefits of turmeric
and curcumin that scientists were able to conduct a comprehensive review
of these studies in the journal Nutritional Reviews. The authors
noted that studies had shown that even at low doses, turmeric inhibits
the accumulation of mutations in DNA. Turmeric tablets were also found
to lower the concentration of mutagenic chemicals in the urine of
smokers. These tablets also reduced DNA damage and helped repair
precancerous lesions. In addition, the reviewers found that turmeric
inhibits tumor formation in the skin, breast, mouth and gut.

Since the publication of this review, new research has only strengthened the evidence for turmeric's anti-cancer prowess. For example, one study conducted by researchers from Siebold University of Nagasaki, Japan, and published in the Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition in 2010, found that healthy people who took turmeric tablets had higher blood concentrations of the cancer-fighting chemical geranylgeranoic acid (GGA) four hours later.

Turmeric targets cancer cells

In another study, published the same year in the journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, researchers from the University of Michigan found that a solution of curcumin
and piperine (the chemical that makes black pepper spicy) stopped the
propagation of breast cancer stem cells while leaving healthy breast
cells unaffected. The piperine appeared to boost the natural
tumor-suppressing powers of the curcumin. Notably, even the typically
hard-to-treat hormone-receptor negative tumors were suppressed by
curcumin.

A 2011 study conducted by researchers from Zheijian Provincial People's Hospital in China backed this up, finding that curcumin actually induced apoptosis (programmed cell death) in triple negative breast cancer cells - the most lethal form of breast cancer. Another 2011 study, by researchers from the University of Texas,
noted that curcumin is remarkable for its effectiveness at inducing
apoptosis while not just leaving non-cancerous cells alone, but actually
improving their health.

The benefits of turmeric don't stop
there. Curcumin is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, and
therefore can help fight a number of chronic health conditions from
heart disease and diabetes to dementia. In fact, studies have shown that
curcumin actually suppresses the formation of the amyloid plaques
linked with Alzheimer's disease. It has also been proven useful at
relieving arthritis and improving the health of the liver and gall
bladder.

Source:-
http://www.naturalnews.com/040177_turmeric_curcuminoids_cancer_cells.html/040177_turmeric_curcuminoids_cancer_cells.html