Curcumin shows anti-colon cancer activity

(Nanowerk News) Researchers at National Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC) have discovered that using a compound consisting of curcuminoids-succinate prodrugs can improve stability in phosphate buffer, releases curcumin derivatives in human plasma, and shows anti-colon cancer activities.
"According to Globocan 2002, colon cancer was the third most common malignant disease in Thai males, while it ranked fifth among Thai females" said Dr. Ubonthip Nimmannit, Head of NanoCosme Lab at NANOTEC. "The investigation involving the synthesis of curcuminoids as potential prodrug is of significant importance to local physicians as it suggests that succinylation of curcuminoids is stable and can release the parent curcumin derivatives in human plasma which makes it to be promising candidates for future treatment of colon cancer".
Colon cancers among Thai people are expected to increase, with about 5,000 new cases diagnosed nationwide every year. The contributing factor to this increase is the imbalanced and unhealthy diet including sedentary lifestyles can also contribute to the development of the disease.
Collaborators on this investigation included researchers from Chulalongkorn University. The researchers reported their investigation in a paper published by MDPI Molecules ("Synthesis, Characterization and Biological Evaluation of Succinate Prodrugs of Curcuminoids for Colon Cancer Treatment").
Source: Nanotec