The battle against cancer could soon be spiced up, following developments made by a group of US scientists.
Synthetic molecules have been developed from a spice-based component and have demonstrated the reduction of cancer cells along with a halt in the spread of such cells in a controlled environment.
In news that may be of interest to anti-aging physicians, researchers used a combination of organic chemistry, molecular biology and computer-aided design in the development of a pharmaceutical compound that may one day be used in the treatment of prostate and breast cancer.
The molecules were developed from the natural compound curcumin which is found in turmeric.
Jiayuh Lin, an investigator at the Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center, said: "To be able to develop a drug that in the future could have potential to treat 50 per cent of these cancers would be a major contribution."
In related news, high doses of vitamin C have been found to reduce the size of tumors in mice, according to researchers at the US National Institutes of Health.
