Turmeric Benefits for Cancer

Turmeric Benefits for CancerTuesday, 3 November 2009
British scientists are examining the efficacy of turmeric extract based contained in foods spicy curry. Initial allegations, the extract has the potential to kill cancer cells. No kidding, extract it worked on the first 24 hours after consumption. Such chemical-curcumin-has long been known to have the power to restore power and been tested as a treatment of arthritis and senility. Although still in the laboratory, tests by a team from the Cork Cancer Research Centre showed the destroyed curcumin on esophageal cancer cells. Several cancer experts said the findings published in the British Journal of Cancer that can help doctors find ways of treatment outside the medical model now. A member of the research team, Dr. Sharon McKenna, acknowledged that researchers have long known the potential of natural ingredients that heal the wrong cells, such as curcumin. UK doctors hope the findings of more advanced for the treatment of esophageal cancer. Each year about 7800 people in Britain diagnosed with throat cancer. Cancer type it into six major fatal cancers, or about 5 percent of deaths in the UK. From the standpoint of resources, Indonesia is one country with potential medicinal herbs abundant.
turmeric tradition of our ancestors indeed miraculous. I wonder what they thought of the past moving so they can say clever and cultured, including the matter of medicine and health. We are now more familiar with synthetic drugs than the drug from natural materials but it turns out nature has provided all the needs if we can process it. Recently produced research that is really complete line benefits of turmeric which has long been known health benefits. Herbs, the bitter yellow, the ugly this was his fate like a "beggar munggah bale °, its popularity is really going uphill after research results are publicized.
Team research collaboration between universities and research agencies in South Korea, proved in vitro by analysis of SPR (Surface plasmon resonance) and in vivo by analysis of APN-specific antibody competition, that one of the active compounds contained in turmeric, was able to restrain the rate of growth cancer.
Curcumin, the Lamanite
In an article titled "Antibacterial and Drug Turmeric Future" in Kompas Cyber ​​Media, rubric edition of Science Saturday, April 27, 2002, has described some of the major constituent of turmeric that is compositions of essential oils, furmerol, cineol, zingiberin, borneol, karvon, and curcumin. Apparently as assumed by previous scholars, curcumin (natural phenolic compounds), which has potential in cancer treatment. Own research involves the testing process known as' screening process approximately 3000 ° to the type of active compounds expected to inhibit cancer cell growth and eventually obtained the fact that the compound curcumin has cemopreventive activity. Curcumin is a phenolic derivative compounds isolated from plant rhizomes of turmeric (Curcuma longa). This compound has 2 clusters interconnected by vinilguaiacole the alpha chain of beta diceton.
The discovery of the wonders of curcumin is not separated from the more advanced medical world's understanding of the mechanisms of cancer cell growth. Although since the early 1990s has been known that curcumin indeed slow the growth of new cancer cells, but still little information about his role in the fight against cancer. Apparently the latest research results can be slightly ajar resist curcumin cancer process, namely by inhibiting the growth of new blood vessels. In cancer patients, generally begins with the process of spreading of cancer cells through the blood vessels (metastasis) and grow in any tissue into the tumor. Along with that, there is also a new blood vessel growth (angiogenesis) spread towards the development of tumors. Angiogenesis is required by tumor cells as a channel provider of nutrients, oxygen and circulation of dirt in order to continue to grow and spread.
Working Mechanism of Curcumin
Mechanism of action of curcumin actually still can not be explained but apparently he can be bound by the enzyme aminopeptidase N (APN) and inhibit the activity of enzimatice. APN is an enzyme present in the membrane tissue in the body (known as zinc-dependent metalloproteinase) and is responsible for an giogenesis and tumor growth. A P N is a function to disassemble protein on the surface of tissue cells so that cancer cells can take over the position of cells and tissues had grown out of control. Provisional estimates, most likely an unsaturated bond (double bond), alpha and beta in the vicinity of ketone groups in curcumin to form covalent bonds with two amino acid nucleophiles present in the active site and can inhibit APN (inhibit) the activity is non-reversible (irreversible .)
Right now even the curcumin compound has entered the first phase of clinical trials for colon cancer resist. Although the results of this study also inspire scientists to mimic or modify the structure of curcumin, but the excess compound isolated from turmeric curcumin is its natural and likely have little adverse effects on cancer patients.
Prospects in Indonesia
Seeing the encouraging results of the research on the above of course we should not remain silent. Moreover, Indonesia has more variations of turmeric plants and is one of the world's largest producer of turmeric (production of approximately 12 tonnes / ha). If the present rulers countries was heavily patented technology many germaplasm originating from tropical countries like Indonesia, it is now time for us to take precautionary action. Of course, support from government and research particularly passionate about the natural ingredients are very big role in this