How Spicy Foods Can Kill Cancers

[churchill]

Scientists have discovered the key to the ability of spicy foods to kill cancer cells.

They found capsaicin, an ingredient of jalapeno peppers, triggers cancer cell death by attacking mitochondria - the cells' energy-generating boiler rooms.

The research raises the possibility that other cancer drugs could be developed to target mitochondria.

The Nottingham University study features in Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications.

The study showed that the family of molecules to which capsaicin belongs, the vanilloids, bind to proteins in the cancer cell mitochondria to trigger apoptosis, or cell death, without harming surrounding healthy cells.

We believe that we have in effect discovered a fundamental 'Achilles heel' for all cancers

Dr Timothy Bates

Capsaicin was tested on cultures of human lung cancer cells and on pancreatic cancers.

Lead researcher Dr Timothy Bates said: "As these compounds attack the very heart of the tumour cells, we believe that we have in effect discovered a fundamental 'Achilles heel' for all cancers.

"The biochemistry of the mitochondria in cancer cells is very different from that in normal cells.

"This is an innate selective vulnerability of cancer cells."

He said a dose of capsaicin that could cause a cancer cell to enter apoptosis, would not have the same effect on a normal cell.

Cancer Research UK recommends reducing your risk of cancer by eating a healthy, balanced diet, with plenty of vegetables and fruit

Josephine Querido

Potential Drugs

The fact that capsaicin and other vanilloids are already commonly found in the diet proves they are safe to eat.

This could make development of a drug containing them a much quicker and cheaper process.

Dr Bates said: "Capsaicin, for example, is already found in treatments for muscle strain and psoriasis - which raises the question of whether an adapted topical treatment could be used to treat certain types of skin cancer.

"It's also possible that cancer patients or those at risk of developing cancer could be advised to eat a diet which is richer in spicy foods to help treat or prevent the disease."

However, Josephine Querido, cancer information officer at Cancer Research UK, said: "This research does not suggest that eating vast quantities of chilli pepper will help prevent or treat cancer.

"The experiments showed that pepper extracts killed cancer cells grown in the laboratory, but these have not yet been tested to see if they are safe and effective in humans."

Cancer Research UK recommends reducing the risk of cancer by eating a healthy, balanced diet, with plenty of vegetables and fruit.

Dr Bates added that the mitochondria in cancer cells could also be targeted by other compounds.

He said the investigation and development of anti-mitochondrial drugs for cancer chemotherapy was likely to be "extremely significant" in the fight against cancer.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6244715.stm

[mahtin]

If Big Pharma can't patent it they'll kill it.

[sanmiguel]

Arent people from countries renowned for eating very spicy food meant to suffer from greater rates of stomach cancer and ulcers.

There is a area of Japan and a town in Italy where they eat fresh fish and vegtables that live longer then anyone else on the planet, obviously diet is a major part of this but also these areas are extremely family orientated and its meant to be living in this extended family environment that adds the extra healthy happier years.

That BBC article isnt exactly convincing.

[Jingthing]

http://www.healthscout.com/ency/68/119/mai...kFactorsofUlcer

The primary cause of ulcers is the bacterium called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). H. pylori is a spiral-shaped bacterium found in the stomach.

And don't forget the galangal:

Thai galangal or Siamese ginger fighting cancer

According to London researchers from the King's College, eating spicy Thai curry or other Thai food spiced with Galangal, could restrain the growth of cancer cells.

Tests have revealed that Galangal (Alpinia galanga) a ginger-like root know as Kha or Siamese ginger and in Thailand mostly used to flavor many Thai food dishes, appears to kill cancer cells.

A scientific team from the King's College in London, believes the galanga root can not only fight human cancer cells but also protect healthy cells from developing into cancer cells.

http://www.thaipro.com/thailand_00/344-gal...er-thailand.htm

Personally, I think chilies, herbs, and spices are very health promoting. The docs who say avoid spicy food are mostly from spice phobic cultures.

Edited May 6, 2009 by Jingthing

[stevoo]

spicy foods are also said to be good for nerve function and can also stop or delay parkinsons and altzimeres (spell)

[apetley]

Arent people from countries renowned for eating very spicy food meant to suffer from greater rates of stomach cancer and ulcers.

There is a area of Japan and a town in Italy where they eat fresh fish and vegtables that live longer then anyone else on the planet, obviously diet is a major part of this but also these areas are extremely family orientated and its meant to be living in this extended family environment that adds the extra healthy happier years.

That BBC article isnt exactly convincing.

There was another program on the BBC sometime ago that said Mexicans have the highest incidence of stomach cancer in the world and are the highest consumers of chillies in the world too.

Maybe one part of chillies has the potential to cause cancer, another to be be the cure.

A double edged sword if there ever was one!

[pedro01]

Arent people from countries renowned for eating very spicy food meant to suffer from greater rates of stomach cancer and ulcers.

There is a area of Japan and a town in Italy where they eat fresh fish and vegtables that live longer then anyone else on the planet, obviously diet is a major part of this but also these areas are extremely family orientated and its meant to be living in this extended family environment that adds the extra healthy happier years.

That BBC article isnt exactly convincing.

Japan is where they have the high incidence of stomach cancers & they do not eat spicy food there.

[tim armstrong]

Arent people from countries renowned for eating very spicy food meant to suffer from greater rates of stomach cancer and ulcers.

There is a area of Japan and a town in Italy where they eat fresh fish and vegtables that live longer then anyone else on the planet, obviously diet is a major part of this but also these areas are extremely family orientated and its meant to be living in this extended family environment that adds the extra healthy happier years.

That BBC article isnt exactly convincing.

Agree about healthy diet is good for you, and unhealthy diet bad, but the hard evidence on causing cancer or helping to prevent it - with diet, is still not there yet. Having extended families and close relationships as well as a spouse, does indeed seem to prolong life.

Incidentally Australian women currently live longer than anyone else on the planet, and they still have high rates of both breast and skin cancer. Australians and Japanese have similar long lifespans. But the current high obesity rates in some age groups in both countries may change all that.

[londonthai]

there are revelations about anti cancer foods almost every week - following these info and implementing the diet accordingly is impossible.

In case of "spicy foods" I would rather wait for a research on living organisms and on some drugs, than increasing chilli in a diet (in a thai kitchen it's already too much for me of it).

surely will eat more of Kha, as it's a tasty vegetable

[ralphlsasser]

Scientists have discovered the key to the ability of spicy foods to kill cancer cells.

They found capsaicin, an ingredient of jalapeno peppers, triggers cancer cell death by attacking mitochondria - the cells' energy-generating boiler rooms.

The research raises the possibility that other cancer drugs could be developed to target mitochondria.

The Nottingham University study features in Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications.

The study showed that the family of molecules to which capsaicin belongs, the vanilloids, bind to proteins in the cancer cell mitochondria to trigger apoptosis, or cell death, without harming surrounding healthy cells.

We believe that we have in effect discovered a fundamental 'Achilles heel' for all cancers

Dr Timothy Bates

Capsaicin was tested on cultures of human lung cancer cells and on pancreatic cancers.

Lead researcher Dr Timothy Bates said: "As these compounds attack the very heart of the tumour cells, we believe that we have in effect discovered a fundamental 'Achilles heel' for all cancers.

"The biochemistry of the mitochondria in cancer cells is very different from that in normal cells.

"This is an innate selective vulnerability of cancer cells."

He said a dose of capsaicin that could cause a cancer cell to enter apoptosis, would not have the same effect on a normal cell.

Cancer Research UK recommends reducing your risk of cancer by eating a healthy, balanced diet, with plenty of vegetables and fruit

Josephine Querido

Potential Drugs

The fact that capsaicin and other vanilloids are already commonly found in the diet proves they are safe to eat.

This could make development of a drug containing them a much quicker and cheaper process.

Dr Bates said: "Capsaicin, for example, is already found in treatments for muscle strain and psoriasis - which raises the question of whether an adapted topical treatment could be used to treat certain types of skin cancer.

"It's also possible that cancer patients or those at risk of developing cancer could be advised to eat a diet which is richer in spicy foods to help treat or prevent the disease."

However, Josephine Querido, cancer information officer at Cancer Research UK, said: "This research does not suggest that eating vast quantities of chilli pepper will help prevent or treat cancer.

"The experiments showed that pepper extracts killed cancer cells grown in the laboratory, but these have not yet been tested to see if they are safe and effective in humans."

Cancer Research UK recommends reducing the risk of cancer by eating a healthy, balanced diet, with plenty of vegetables and fruit.

Dr Bates added that the mitochondria in cancer cells could also be targeted by other compounds.

He said the investigation and development of anti-mitochondrial drugs for cancer chemotherapy was likely to be "extremely significant" in the fight against cancer.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6244715.stm

I knew there was a good reason as to why I like Thai food so much.

[Tolley]

Are cancer rates any lower in Thai people than westerners who eat very little chilli???

Also I would posit that many cancers aren't caused by food and can't be cured by food as they have their root in emotional issues.