| Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is a polyphenol, a kind | | | | curcumin can suppress tumour initiation, promotion |
| of chemical that, it is believed, may protect against | | | | and metastasis. |
| some common health problems and possibly certain | | | | Pharmacologically, curcumin has been found to be |
| effects of aging, derived from the plant Curcuma | | | | safe. Human clinical trials indicated no dose-limiting |
| longa, commonly called turmeric. Curcumin has | | | | toxicity when administered at doses up to 10 g/day. |
| properties that may block the enzymes that cancers | | | | All of these studies suggest that curcumin has |
| need for growth. | | | | enormous potential in the prevention and therapy of |
| Extensive research over the last 50 years has | | | | cancer. The current review describes in detail the |
| indicated this polyphenol, Curcumin, can both prevent | | | | data supporting these studies. |
| and treat cancer. The anticancer potential of curcumin | | | | It has now been confirmed that curcumin has |
| stems from its ability to suppress proliferation of a | | | | properties way beyond those above. Studies have |
| wide variety of tumour cells. | | | | shown that, as in its original use, it is a long term |
| In several systems, curcumin has been described as a | | | | barrier against many forms of illness, including viral |
| potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. | | | | infection, brain ageing, problems of circulation, skin |
| Evidence has also been presented to suggest that | | | | deficiencies, macular deterioration to name but a few. |