What are the side effect of turmeric?
AB Wire
NEW YORK: Turmeric, one of the most commonly used spices in Indian and Asian cooking, may play a therapeutic role in oral cancers associated with human papillomavirus, according to new research published in ecancermedicalscience.
One of the herb’s key active ingredients – an antioxidant called curcumin – appears to have a quelling effect on the activity of human papillomavirus (HPV), reported Science 2.0.
HPV is a virus that promotes the development of cervical and oral cancer. There is no cure, but curcumin may offer a means of future control.
“Turmeric has established antiviral and anti-cancer properties,” says corresponding author Dr. Alok Mishra of Emory University. “And according to our new findings, we could say that it’s good for oral health too.”
Mishra’s research group first noted the effect of curcumin on HPV and cervical cancer cells in 2005. The antioxidant slowed the expression of HPV, suggesting that curcumin could control the extent of HPV infection, Science 2.0 reported.
“Since HPV-related oral cancer cases are on the rise, we tested the same hypothesis on oral cancer,” Mishra says. “They turned out to be some very interesting findings.”
The new research indicates that curcumin turns down the expression of HPV in infected oral cancer cells by downregulating the levels of cellular transcription factors AP-1 and NF-kB.
These findings could suggest a new therapeutic role for cucurmin in cancer control.
While Mishra cannot comment on the therapeutic benefits of turmeric in cooking, he says that the use of turmeric and other antioxidants may be good for health in general, and HPV-related oral cancers in particular.
Natural News reported that dried turmeric is a powder whose color ranges from orange to yellow. In recipes, one tablespoon of fresh turmeric is equivalent to one teaspoon of dried turmeric for taste. It is delicious in salad dressings or heavily sprinkled on salads, and it is a welcome addition to vegetable dishes, dips, and sauces.
Turmeric, with its active ingredient, curcumin, is a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant with numerous medicinal uses. The more serious diseases treated and prevented with turmeric include inflammatory bowel diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, cystic fibrosis, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and cancer, reported Natural News.
Numerous studies have shown that turmeric helps the body destroy cancer cells, helps prevent tumor formation, slows or inhibits the spread of cancer cells, and induces apoptosis (cell suicide) of mutated cancerous cells. Research shows the combination of onions and turmeric (combining quercitin and curcumin) reduces both the size and the number of precancerous lesions in the intestinal tract.
The combination of curcumin and phenethyl isothiocyanates, a photochemical found in cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower, pack a powerful punch. In mice studies, each nutrient retarded prostate cancer cells, but when combined, these two nutrients significantly reduced tumor growth and the ability of the cancerous cells to metastasize.
Web MD has also reported that turmeric is used for arthritis, heartburn (dyspepsia), stomach pain, diarrhea, intestinal gas, stomachbloating, loss of appetite, jaundice, liver problems and gallbladder disorders.
It is also used for headaches, bronchitis, colds, lung infections, fibromyalgia, leprosy, fever, menstrual problems, and cancer. Other uses include depression, Alzheimer’s disease, water retention, worms, and kidney problems.
Some people apply turmeric to the skin for pain, ringworm, bruising, leech bites, eye infections, inflammatory skin conditions, soreness inside of the mouth, and infected wounds.
Web MD noted that turmeric usually does not cause significant side effects; however, some people can experience stomach upset, nausea, dizziness, or diarrhea. In one report, a person who took very high amounts of turmeric, over 1500 mg twice daily, experienced a dangerous abnormal heart rhythm. However, it is unclear if turmeric was the actual cause of this side effect. Until more is known, avoid taking excessively large doses of turmeric.
During pregnancy and while breast-feeding, turmeric is likely unsafe when taken by mouth in medicinal amounts during pregnancy. It might promote a menstrual period or stimulate the uterus, putting the pregnancy at risk.
Turmeric might lower testosterone levels and decrease sperm movement when taken by mouth by men. This might reduce fertility. Turmeric should be used cautiously by people trying to have a baby, it noted.
1 Comment
I guess further scientific research should be made before relating turmeric or any other
herb with cancer. I am not diminishing turmeric´s broad range of properties, from being a very good source of antioxidants to being an effective natural anti-inflammatory.