Biological and Anticancer Effects of Curcumin

Turmeric is the general name for Curcuma Longa, an Indian spice belonging to the ginger family. Due to its various applications as a spice, coloring agent etc., turmeric has been used widely for the treatment of various illnesses such as arthritis, ulcers, jaundice, wounds, fever, trauma and skin diseases. The medicinal properties of turmeric are mainly due to presence of a component in the rhizome termed curcumin. The mechanisms by which curcumin exerts its anticancer effects are discussed in this paper. Curcumin has antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, and proapoptotic effects. Especially, it has therapeutic applications against different cancers and could be used as a preventive agent. Curcumin induces anticancer activities by prevention of inflammation and proliferation of cancerous cells. Furthermore, it induces apoptosis and prevents metastasis.