Cancer Fighting Herbs, Spices and in the Home with Computer Programs

The Problem

Several centuries’ worth of anecdotal evidence, as well as some recent scientific research, indicate that a compound called curcumin—found in a common spice called turmeric—has anti-cancer properties, and also has multiple other features with which it can fight disease.

However, when ingested orally, the compound isn’t absorbed well by the body. Most of the curcumin ingested is not absorbed in the gastrointestinal system – instead it is eliminated without having been able to enter the bloodstream, let alone the tissues.

The Solution

To try and solve this problem, a research team at Ohio State University has used a multidisciplinary approach combining elements of organic chemistry, molecular biology, and computer-aided design to develop and test compounds derived from curcumin. The plan is to develop a compound with the anti-cancer properties of the curcumin, but in a form which can be better absorbed and used by the body.

At a recent meeting, the team announced they had developed around 40 compounds, and would select some of the most potent for further work. Several apparently have good potential for use in the development of anti-cancer drugs.

The team is continuing to refine the most promising compounds – those which are structured such that they will have the most potent activity with proteins associated in the development of certain types of cancer. Currently the team is looking at compounds for the treatment of prostate and breast cancers.

The Key

An important facet of the work is this multidisciplinary approach: by combining elements of various scientific disciplines, it’s possible to identify the compounds with the best anti-cancer activity simply by understanding the nature of the chemical groups which make up each compound.

Incredibly, using computer-aided design allows the team to predict how the various compounds will react without ever working with them in a laboratory. This approach means they are able to manipulate molecules within a computer program, and examine the effects of various small changes to molecular structure – allowing them to determine how to proceed with designing the most effective anti-cancer drugs.

The Results

Using this approach, the team has been able to develop compounds which are non-toxic to healthy cells, and yet kill cancer cells more effectively than the original curcumin.

And based on predictions made using the computer-aided design program, some of these compounds may be effective in treating as many as 50% of all breast and prostate cancers.