The Possible Benefits of Curcumin

 A curcumin derivative (Diphenyl Difluoroketone) showed inhibition of cancer cells when experimented on outside of the human body in a controlled environment. Using these methods, it was shown that EF24(Diphenyl Difluoroketone) inhibited the growth of colon cancer cells. Furthermore, it seemed as if the cells were also being destroyed as the cancer cells showed increased levels of activated caspase-3 and increased Bax to Bcl-2 and Bax to Bcl-xL ratios, indicating that the cells were also undergoing apoptosis (cell death). In vivo (inside the body) EF24 has shown to be effective too. 

When tested in mice with colon cancer tumors, results showed that there were a decreased number of capillaries and blood vessels as well as decreased amounts of vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA and protein expression, a signal protein produced by many cells that stimulates the formation of blood vessels. Taken together, the data suggests that curcumin or curcumin-related compounds may be a potent ant-tumor and anticancer agent, promoting apoptosis during mitosis and may be of significant use to combat gastrointestinal cancers.

Subramaniam D, May R, Sureban SM, Lee KB, George R, Kuppusamy P, Ramanujam RP, Hideg K, Dieckgraefe BK, Houchen CW, Anant S. Diphenyl difluoroketone: a curcumin derivative with potent in vivo anticancer activity. Cancer Res. 2008 Mar 15;68(6):1962-9. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-07-6011. Erratum in: Cancer Res. 2022 Aug 16;82(16):2951. PMID: 18339878.