An ingredient of turmeric has been found to block the activity of a hormone that is a cause of bowel cancer.
A team from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) found that, by using cell cultures, curcumin (the active ingredient of turmeric) blocks the production of a protein by the hormone neurotensin that speeds up the growth and spread of cancer cells.
UTMB surgery professor B Mark Evers said: "We found that in colon cancer cells, neurotensin increases not just the rate of growth but also other critical things, including cell migration and metastasis."
The fact that all that can be turned off by this natural product, curcumin, was really remarkable."
The study, published in the current issue of Clinical Cancer Research, shows curcumin works by dampening signals to the neurotensin, so making it less effective.
Professor Evers added: "Our findings suggest that curcumin may be useful for colon cancer treatment, as well as potential colon cancer suppression, in cells that respond to this gastrointestinal hormone, neurotensin."
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