Plant extracts 'as effective as aspirin' in slowing cancer

Evidence is mounting that the consumption of botanicals may delay the onset of cancer, providing a vast opportunity for food manufacturers to market the health benefits of their products.

Professor Andy Gescher, oncology expert at the University of Leicester, believes that turmeric extract curcuma longa may play a crucial role in slowing down bowel cancer. "I try not to get too emotionally involved in studies, but I wouldn't be surprised if in five or six years' time, curcuma is shown to be as effective as aspirin in slowing down bowel cancer," he says.

He explains that aspirin has already been proven to fight cancer, but simultaneously inflames the mucosa of the stomach. "Taking it for the odd headache is no problem, but regular usage could cause stomach bleeding," he says.

"It is conceivable that curcuma also has inflammatory effects, but I would say there's a good chance it doesn't. It's likely that natural extracts have a higher safety profile and less detrimental effects.

"In Asia, people have taken curcuma for years without any side effects, so we are pretty optimistic," he adds.

It is hard to test curcuma's efficacy in fighting tumours because cancer can take many years to develop. Instead, scientists have studied a more common condition, which is often a precursor to cancer: the surrogate endpoint. In the case of colorectal cancer, the surrogate endpoint is the development of polyps in the colon and rectum.

"Polyps in the gut can be removed surgically, but they can come back. We want to see if curcuma may interfere with the reformation of polyps," says Gescher.

Following animal and analytical testing, Gescher is now applying to medicentres to begin clinical trials on human subjects.

Paolo Morazzoni, scientific director at ingredients firm Indena, also believes that plant extracts have an important role to play in the battle against cancer.

"Given that 40% of anti-cancer drugs discovered over the last 60 years are botanicals or a botanical derivative, the importance of plants in cancer therapy can today be taken for granted. Oncology research is increasingly heading towards prevention and finding exciting responses in nature," he says.