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(Ivanhoe Newswire) The ingredient curcumin -- found in the common curry spice, turmeric -- may help treat prostate cancer.
In the most recent issue of Cancer Research, researchers from the Comprehensive Cancer Center of the University of Alabama in Birmingham report curcumin has anticancer effects.
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"Curcumin, a turmeric root extract, has been shown to possess activity in the treatment and prevention of cancer, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease," according to an article on UroToday.com in response to the findings of the University of Alabama study. "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."
Turmeric is ground from the dried root of a plant of the ginger family. Because it is one of the cheaper spices, researchers say if more studies find curcumin effective in treating prostate cancer it could be a cost effective, natural option for patients.
According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, about one in six Americans has prostate cancer. And more than 218,000 men in the United States will be diagnosed with the disease this year.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, which offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, click on: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
SOURCE: Cancer Research, 2007;67:1988-1996
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