Combination of two plant compounds is promising in the treatment of cancer of the colon -
The combination of two compounds from plants that have medicinal properties - silymarin and curcumin - is promising in the treatment of colon cancer, according to research from the University Saint Louis published in the June issue of the Journal of cancer 23.
Curcumin is the active ingredient in the spice turmeric, which is found in spicy curry dishes and silymarin is a component of milk thistle, which was used to treat liver diseases.
The researchers and their students studied a line of colon cancer cells in a laboratory model. They found the treatment of the cells with curcumin initially, then with silymarin was more effective in the fight against cancer that treatment of cells with either one phytochemical said Uthayashanker Ezekiel, Ph.D., author and associate professor of science biomedical laboratory at St. Louis University correspondent.
"the combination of inhibited phytochemicals colon cancer cells to multiply and spread. Also, when colon cancer cells were pre-exposed to curcumin and then treated with silymarin the cells underwent a large amount of cell death, "says Ezekiel.
" phytochemicals may provide alternative therapeutic approaches to treatments against cancer and to avoid problems of toxicity and side effects than the chemotherapy can cause. "
Ezekiel noted that research is a preliminary cell studies, with more research before before scientists know whether the compounds are an effective treatment for people who have colon cancer. He saw the promise in the use of phytochemicals to help prevent colon cancer, which is often caused by lifestyle factors such as diet.
the scientists would then need to study how curcumin and the impact of silymarin actions of molecules, such as gene transcription and expression that causes cells to change, Ezekiel said. then, the compounds will be studied in animal models and then in humans.
"the concentrations of curcumin and silymarin that are too high could be harmful to people," he said. "We still have much to learn, and for now, it is much safer to add a little spice to your diet and get your curcumin foods that contain turmeric, such as curry, rather than taking high doses of the compound. "
Curcumin is the active ingredient in the spice turmeric, which is found in spicy curry dishes and silymarin is a component of milk thistle, which was used to treat liver diseases.
The researchers and their students studied a line of colon cancer cells in a laboratory model. They found the treatment of the cells with curcumin initially, then with silymarin was more effective in the fight against cancer that treatment of cells with either one phytochemical said Uthayashanker Ezekiel, Ph.D., author and associate professor of science biomedical laboratory at St. Louis University correspondent.
"the combination of inhibited phytochemicals colon cancer cells to multiply and spread. Also, when colon cancer cells were pre-exposed to curcumin and then treated with silymarin the cells underwent a large amount of cell death, "says Ezekiel.
" phytochemicals may provide alternative therapeutic approaches to treatments against cancer and to avoid problems of toxicity and side effects than the chemotherapy can cause. "
Ezekiel noted that research is a preliminary cell studies, with more research before before scientists know whether the compounds are an effective treatment for people who have colon cancer. He saw the promise in the use of phytochemicals to help prevent colon cancer, which is often caused by lifestyle factors such as diet.
the scientists would then need to study how curcumin and the impact of silymarin actions of molecules, such as gene transcription and expression that causes cells to change, Ezekiel said. then, the compounds will be studied in animal models and then in humans.
"the concentrations of curcumin and silymarin that are too high could be harmful to people," he said. "We still have much to learn, and for now, it is much safer to add a little spice to your diet and get your curcumin foods that contain turmeric, such as curry, rather than taking high doses of the compound. "
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