Curry and turmeric help smokers with head and neck cancer

By David Liu davidl at foodconsumer dot org

Sunday Oct 4, 2009 (foodconsumer.org) -- Curcumin, the yellow pigment found in curry powder and turmeric may inhibit the adverse effects of nicotine in patients with head and neck cancer who smoke, a new study suggests.

The study examined the effects of curcumin on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) growths in a model of a variety of head and neck cancer cell lines.

Researchers found that the curcumin blocked nicotine from activating cancer causing cells.

The study was presented at the 2009 American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO in San Diego.

About 40,000 new cases of head and neck cancers are expected in the United States each year, and the disease results in 13,000 deaths annually.

Nicotine found in tobacco is not a cancer-causing agent. However, it promotes growth of cancer cells in the head and neck somehow.

The results of the study suggest that curry powder and turmeric may be used as a chemo-preventive agent to prevent cancer and also block the harmful effects of nicotine.

Curcumin has been known to have anticancer properties in addition to preventative effects against heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease among others.

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