The spice could be used to treat oesophageal cancer

The research carried out at the Cork Cancer Research Centre has shown the chemical curcumin found in turmeric can destroy gullet cancer cells within 24 hours, so could be used to treat oesophageal cancer. The cells began to digest themselves, after the curcumin triggered lethal death signals. In the UK each year around 7,800 people are diagnosed with oesophageal cancer. It’s the sixth most common cause of cancer death, and accounts for around five per cent of all cancer deaths in the UK.

The spice is known for its healing powers, and is already being tested as a treatment for arthritis and dementia.

Director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK says, ‘This is interesting research which opens up the possibility that natural chemicals found in turmeric could be developed into new treatments for oesophageal cancer. Rates of oesophageal cancer have gone up more than a half since the 70s and this is thought to be linked to rising rates of obesity, alcohol intake and reflux disease, so finding ways to prevent this disease is important to.’