Anticarcinogenic Effects. Animal studies involving rats and mice, as well as
in vitro studies utilizing human cell lines, have demonstrated curcumin’s ability to
inhibit carcinogenesis at three stages: tumor promotion, angiogenesis, and tumor
growth. In two studies of colon and prostate cancer, curcumin inhibited cell
proliferation and tumor growth. Turmeric and curcumin are also capable of
suppressing the activity of several common mutagens and carcinogens in a variety
of cell types in both in vitro and in vivo studies. The anticarcinogenic effects of
turmeric and curcumin are due to direct antioxidant and free-radical scavenging