Spice Suppresses Tumor Growth

Curcumin, the yellow component in the spice turmeric and a major ingredient in yellow curry, has been found to suppress melanoma cell growth and trigger tumor cell death, according to new research.

This study also clarifies curcumin's intracellular processes of action in this kind of tumor. The spice also demonstrates anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, as well as its anticancer characteristics. In other types of tumors, it has been shown to suppress tumor growth and trigger apoptosis, an intracellular process for cells to commit suicide. To assess the efficacy of curcumin in melanoma, researchers from the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX, USA) treated with melanoma cell lines with curcumin at different doses and for different duration.

The study's findings demonstrated that curcumin treatment decreased cell viability in all three cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, curcumin triggered apoptosis in tumor cells at high concentrations for short periods of time and decreased concentrations for long periods of time--a new finding in the evaluation of curcumin.

Curcumin was found to inhibit two specific proteins normally part of an intracellular pathway that prevents apoptosis when stimulated. Curcumin partially inhibited nuclear factor (NF)-kappa-B and strongly inhibited its upstream stimulator and another independent inhibitor of apoptosis, IKK. However, it did not suppress two other signaling pathways associated with melanomas and tumor proliferation, B-Raf/MEK/ERK and Akt pathways.

"Based on our studies, we conclude the curcumin is a potent suppressor of cell viability and inducer of apoptosis in melanoma cell lines,” reported the authors, adding "Future investigation to determine the effects of curcumin in animal models of melanoma and clinical trials are planned.”

The researchers published their study in the August 15, 2005, issue of the journal Cancer.



Related Links:
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center