How Curcumin Helps Fight Against Cancer

Curcumin is one of the most active curcuminoid compounds found in turmeric. A bioactive substance with recognised medicinal properties, it is best known for its ability to inhibit and fight inflammation at a molecular level.

How curcumin may help against cancer

Curcumin appears to act against cancer in several complementary ways. It activates a self-destructive mechanism within cancer cells and inhibits their growth by damaging their genetic material (DNA). It also prevents cell division.

Beyond these direct effects, curcumin may support conventional treatment. Some chemotherapies work better when given in combination with it, and it also has positive effects alongside radiation therapy, with cancer cells becoming more radio-sensitive when treated with curcumin.

How curcumin is taken

The curcumin content of turmeric is only around 3%, and it is poorly absorbed into the bloodstream. For this reason, taking turmeric as a spice or in a tea is not an effective way to obtain the health benefits of curcumin.

By contrast, when pure curcumin is given intravenously it is fully absorbed into the blood and body, where it can take effect. Reassuringly, it will not turn the skin yellow.

What the research suggests

Many studies point to the healing effects of curcumin, and three examples give a sense of this evidence base.

In a review by Julie S Jurenka, the author reported that, "Based on early cell culture and animal research, clinical trials indicate curcumin may have potential as a therapeutic agent in diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, arthritis, and chronic anterior uveitis, as well as certain types of cancer."

A separate study on the efficacy of curcumin in the management of chronic anterior uveitis found that patients with this condition could benefit from taking oral doses of curcumin.

A third study, which compared a range of anti-inflammatory agents, concluded that "aspirin and ibuprofen are least potent, while resveratrol, curcumin, celecoxib, and tamoxifen are the most potent anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative agents of those we studied".