Kurkuma tegen kanker.*
Het belangrijke bestanddeel van kerriepoeder die ook de gele kleur geeft is kurkuma. Uit een nieuw Amerikaans onderzoek blijkt dat zowel in vitro als bij muizen dat kurkuma inderdaad zeer goede antikanker eigenschappen heeft. Kurkuma bevordert de celdood van kankercellen, verhindert de groei van kankercellen en ondersteunt de effecten van zowel radio- als chemotherapie.
Curcumin
Has Anticancer, Chemosensitization, & Radiosensitization Effects By
Down-regulating MDM2 Oncogene Through PI3K/mTOR/ETS2 Pathway
Curry
powder is a mixture predominantly composed of turmeric root extract and other
spices such as coriander and fenugreek. Curcumin, a turmeric root extract, has
been shown to possess activity in the treatment and prevention of cancer,
multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer's disease. The molecular mechanism for its
anticancer effect is largely unknown, although it is thought to inhibit the
synthesis of MDM2, an oncoprotein known to bind p53 and modulate p21 expression.
In the March 1 issue of Cancer Research, Li and colleagues from the
Comprehensive Cancer Center of the University of Alabama report on a study
designed to elucidate the molecular anticancer effect of curcumin in a
preclinical prostate cancer model.
Using PC-3 human prostate cancer cell lines grown in vitro, curcumin was found
to decrease the mRNA and protein expression of the oncoprotein MDM2 and to
enhance the expression of tumor modulator p21. This translated into an induction
of apoptosis and inhibition of proliferation of PC-3 cells grown in culture.
A group of mice xenografts were also developed using the PC-3 cell-line.
Curcumin was administered via an oral route to all mice (5 days per week for 4
weeks) except for the control group which only received cottonseed oil. Study
groups (5 mice each) were divided as follows: (1) curcumin therapy alone, (2)
gemcitabine alone intraperitoneally, (3) radiotherapy alone, and (4) control.
Tumor mass was compared at the end of the study. Compared to the control, in all
study groups curcumin was found to inhibit the growth of tumors in mice and to
enhance the effects of both gemcitabine therapy and radiation therapy.
This well-performed study provides an elegant mechanistic explanation for the
anticancer effect of curcumin, which appears to act in a p53 independent manner.
These exciting data suggest that this dietary supplement should be studied in
combination with traditional forms of chemotherapy or radiotherapy in tumors
dependent on the MDM2 pathway.
Mao Li, Zhuo Zhang, Donald L. Hill,
Hui Wang, and Ruiwen Zhang
Cancer Res. 2007 Mar 1:67(5): 1988-96.
(Maart 2007)
(Opm Meer over kerrie en kurkuma)