If you like curry then you must be delighted to learn that scientists in Ireland have found a certain type of curry spice can kill off cancer cells.

The chemical – curcumin – can be found in the bright yellow curry spice turmeric. It’s long thought to have healing powers. Tests by a team at the Cork Cancer Research Centre show it can destroy gullet cancer cells in the lab.

The cancer cells began to digest themselves after the curcumin triggered lethal cell death signals. And this process started within 24 hours.

Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK, said: “This is an interesting research which opens up the possibility that natural chemicals found in turmeric could be developed into new treatments for oesophageal cancer.”

curcumin:姜黄素

turmeric:姜黄(植物)

healing powers:有治疗功能

gullet:食道

digest:消化

triggered:引发

lethal:致命的

opens up:开创，开辟

oesophageal cancer:食道癌