Curcumin, the active compound in the curry spice turmeric, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activity. Researchers have just determined that curcumin in combination with a cancer-inhibiting protein can slow the growth of mesothelioma cancer cells and speed their demise.
Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lungs that is often associated with exposure to asbestos, and it is extremely difficult to treat. The researchers hope to develop a synthetic curcumin analog that could be used for this purpose.
[Clinical Cancer Research, Oct., 2014]
Poor Absorption Is a Problem
The reason researchers are working on a synthetic curcumin analog (in addition to the fact that is the only way they can make money from it) is that curcumin from turmeric is not very well absorbed. It would be difficult to dose a patient with mesothelioma with enough curcumin to accomplish in the body what the compound did in the laboratory.
Until the synthetic compound is developed, curcumin will probably not be useful for treating mesothelioma or other cancers. But there is a possibility that including plenty of curcumin in a diet full of vegetables, in the form of curry or in other foods, might help discourage cancers from developing. The research on this is still incomplete, but it is a tasty way to hedge your bets.
