Curcumin may help block nicotine-induced cancer cells
POSTED October 5, 2009 - 16:04 | POSTED BY Kangna Agarwal
Last edited by Harpreet Bhagrath on October 5, 2009 - 18:16
The findings of the study may help discover potential therapies for cancer prevention and treatment.
In order to test the effectiveness of Curcumin, researchers pre-treated the cultured head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells (HNSCC) developed in the lab with curcumin, and then exposed the cells to nicotine—drug found in tobacco leaves.
Squamous cell carcinoma is a form of cancer that may occur in many different organs, including the skin, lips, mouth, lungs etc.
The results showed that curcumin was able to block the activity of cancer causing cells.
The study also suggests that turmeric could be used as a chemo-preventive agent to prevent cancer and also block the harmful effects of nicotine.
In addition to have anticancer properties, Curcumin is also known to exhibit preventive effects against heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.
Nicotine is not cancer-causing agent but promotes it
Nicotine, drug found in tobacco leaves, is not a cancer-causing agent. However, it is known to push the growth of cancer causing cells.
Experts say that whether someone smokes, chews, or sniffs tobacco, he or she is delivering nicotine to the brain. Each cigarette contains about 10 milligrams of nicotine.
Many patients continue to smoke after successful treatment, therefore recurrence rate of these cancers is high.
The U.S. reports nearly 40,000 new cases of head and neck cancers and 13,000 deaths annually. Worldwide, 500000 new cases are reported annually.
The results of the study were presented at the 2009 American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO that is taking place in San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California from Oct. 4 to Oct. 7 this year.
