Mécanismes Moléculaires du Curcuma Longa L dans le Traitement du Cancer

Abstract

Cancer is primarily a disease of old age and it is now well recognized that lifestyle plays a major role in the development of most cancers. While herbal formulations have been used to treat cancer for centuries, current treatments typically involve toxic mustard gas, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and targeted therapies. While traditional herbal medicines are safe, the active ingredients they contain and the way they exert their effects against cancer are perhaps best illustrated by curcumin, a derivative of turmeric that has been used for centuries to treat a wide variety of inflammatory conditions. Curcumin's anti-cancer properties have been demonstrated in both in vitro and in vivo studies. It inhibits the growth of cancer cells, induces their apoptosis and prevents the formation of new blood vessels necessary for tumor growth. This polyphenol acts on several levels to inhibit tumor progression, notably by blocking angiogenesis, cancer cell proliferation and metastasis.