Curcumin and cancer - Essay Example

It is found out that curcumin or turmeric has the ability to control the growth of cancerous cells. Curcumin is used as main ingredient in many Asian cooking. And in India Ayurvedic medicines add turmeric while producing some herbal medicines. Turmeric holds a high place in Ayurvedic medicine as a "cleanser of the body" and today science is finding a growing list of diseased conditions which turmerics active ingredient heals” [Jacqueline Strax 2006]. Meanwhile some researches have proved that curcumin helps in controlling the cell growth.

However, the argument of a few researchers’ say that curcumin does not show any reflective effect like controlling the cell growth if taken along with the diet. Curcumin has the ability to stop the growth of cancerous cells at the initial stage of the disease. It helps the damaged cells to destruct, as result the process of multiplication stops.[Health News 2005].where as University of Maryland , Medical Centre [2002] has this to say that “Evidence from laboratory and animal studies suggests that curcumin has potential in the treatment of various forms of cancer, including prostate, breast, skin, and colon.”. Most of the researches has proved the antioxidant functioning capacity of the curcumin.

The antioxidants are “substances that protects cells from damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals”[International Cancer Institute. 2004].Free radials are group of atoms with abnormal number of electrons formed due to the interaction of oxygen with the molecules, as a result they react with the major cellular components .“Curcumin acts as a free radical scavenger and antioxidant, inhibiting lipid peroxidation and oxidative DNA damage” wikiepedia the free encyclopedia. [2006]. As far as the reaction of curcumin in controlling cancer cells is concerned, it is given in the form of treatment along with already suggested medications.

However, medical practitioners suggests that Indian and