Curcumin, an extract found in the curry spice turmeric, promotes death of cancer cells.

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Irish researchers find that curcumin, an extract found in the curry spice turmeric, promotes death of cancer cells.

In a lab model of esophageal cancer, Sharon McKenna, from Cork Cancer Research Centre at the University College Cork and Mercy University Hospital  (Ireland), and colleagues have found that curcumin, an extract found in the bright yellow curry spice turmeric, causes the cells to digest themselves.  The team observes that: “Curcumin can induce cell death by a mechanism that is not reliant on apoptosis induction, and thus represents a promising anticancer agent for prevention and treatment of oesophageal cancer.