Turmeric and curcumin as topical agents in cancer therapy.
An ethanol extract of turmeric ("Curcuma longa") as well as an ointment of curcumin (its active ingredient) were found to produce remarkable symptomatic relief in patients with external cancerous lesions. Reduction in smell were noted in 90% of the cases and reduction in itching in almost all cases. Dry lesions were observed in 70% of the cases, and a small number of patients (10%) had a reduction in lesion size and pain. In many patients the effect continued for several months. An adverse reaction was noticed in only one of the 62 patients evaluated.
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D002396:Catechols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D030024:Curcuma; D003474:Curcumin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D009812:Odorants / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010166:Palliative Care; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011537:Pruritus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000150:complications
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D002396:Catechols; D010936:Plant Extracts; C012596:turmeric extract; D003474:Curcumin