Warning: Antioxidants may prevent ginger, curcumin, and hot pepper from
killing cancer cells. Last updated May 2, 2007.
A scientific journal has published a paper[1] that indicated the effect
of 6-shogaol one of the anticancer components of ginger may be blocked by
antioxidants. The paper specifically mentions that the antioxidants glutathione
and N-acetylcysteine can protect cancer cells from apoptotic cell death caused
by 6-shoagol. It is only reasonable to believe that other commonly used
antioxidant supplements such as vitamins A, C, E, beta-carotene and others
may also interfere with not only 6-shoagol but also 6-gingerol (ginger),
capsaisin (hot pepper), and curcumin (turmeric). Another paper[2] indicates
that selenium, a supplement that is often thought of as an antioxidant helper
mineral, may actually assist in the process of apoptosis. Therefore before
using ginger, hot peppers, or curcumin, it may be reasonable to reduce antioxidant
intake to a minimal amount. Stopping antioxidant intake for at least one
day during a cycle may be helpful. Also, supplementation with selenium before
and during the cycle may also help. After the cycle is complete a return
to normal supplement intake is likely acceptable. A third paper[3] indicates
that the form of selenium can affect how effective the selenium is at triggering
apoptosis. If this is true then taking the supplement Betaine (pronounced
BAY-tah-een) may help convert some of the selenium to the methyl form, and
that may help to kill some resistant cancers.
Although this does not apply directly to ginger, curcumin, or hot pepper,
please see the ScienceDaily link below. As usual there is always conflicting
information.
[1]
6-shogaol
(alkanone from ginger) induces apoptotic cell death of human hepatoma p53
mutant Mahlavu subline via an oxidative stress-mediated caspase-dependent
mechanism.
J Agric Food Chem. 2007 Feb 7;55(3):948-54.
[2]
Inorganic
selenium sensitizes prostate cancer cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis through
superoxide/p53/Bax-mediated activation of mitochondrial pathway.
Mol Cancer Ther. 2006 Jul;5(7):1873-82.
[3]
Differential
involvement of reactive oxygen species in apoptosis induced by two classes
of selenium compounds in human prostate cancer cells.
Int J Cancer
2007 May 1;120(9):2034-43.
ScienceDaily: Antioxidants May Aid Chemotherapy Patients
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