A study at the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital in Beijing tested the effects of varying dosages of curcumin (5, 10, 20, 30 and 40 µmol/l) on human urinary bladder transitional carcinoma cells, comparing the results to those of the same cells in a negative control group.
It was observed that when more than 10 µmol/l of curcumin was applied, “the growth of cells was inhibited in a time- and dose-dependent manner, and the difference was statistically significant” from the control group.
The study added that curcumin was found to increase the death of bladder cancer cells, in part due to a dose‑dependent rise in caspase 3/7 enzyme activity.
Heart benefits
Additionally, curcumin was shown to obstruct the migratory ability of the cancer cells. The study stated that “the number of transmembrane cells gradually decreased as the drug concentration of curcumin increased”.
Apart from its positive effects on bladder cancer, curcumin had previously been found to alleviate coronary heart disease, added the study.
The study concluded that additional studies are necessary to ascertain the in vivo anti-cancer effects of curcumin in animal models, so as to “evaluate the therapeutic potential of curcumin on bladder cancer cells, and the potential benefits of curcumin for clinical practice in the future”.
Source: Oncology Letters
https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2017.6205
“Antitumor effects of curcumin in human bladder cancer in vitro”
Authors: Jing Shi, et al.