Researchers at QU’s College of Pharmacy boost turmeric’s power against colon cancer

Researchers at QU’s College of Pharmacy have boosted turmeric’s power against colon cancer with tiny nano-particles. Curcumin, a natural anticancer agent found in turmeric, is being explored as a safer alternative to chemotherapy, which causes severe side effects, a QU statement said.Since curcumin is difficult for the body to absorb and use effectively, scientists at Qatar University Health (QU Health) led by Pharmaceutical Sciences Prof Nashiru Billa, at the College of Pharmacy, and his team, have used tiny particles called ‘nano-formulations’ made from special material in crab shells called mannosylated chitosan that wraps curcumin within the nano-formulation.In laboratory tests, they found that the nano-particles helped the body absorb more of turmeric's active ingredient, curcumin, leading to even 50% greater anti-cancer effects. The formulation was also safe on normal cells. If this technology can be translated into a clinical setting, it could provide a safer and more effective treatment option for colon cancer patients."This groundbreaking research could revolutionise the treatment of cancer, particularly for patients with colon cancer, and has significant implications for the development of new cancer therapies. While the initial laboratory experiments (in vitro) have shown promising results, there is still a lot of work to be done to determine if the treatment will be effective in clinical settings (in vivo),” says Prof Billa."Our groundbreaking study highlights the potential for natural products to revolutionise cancer treatment. By utilising nano-particles to enhance the anti-cancer properties of turmeric, we are one step closer to unlocking the full potential of natural remedies in the fight against cancer. This discovery brings hope and inspiration to those seeking new and innovative ways to combat this devastating disease,” says Sourour Idoudi, one of the researchers and a PhD student, College of Pharmacy, QU Health.The formulation was solely tested on colon cancer cells, limiting its scope to other types of cancer. Additional research is required to evaluate the efficacy of the formulation on other types of cancer.Dr Maysaloun Merhi, a research scientist and study collaborator at the Translational Cancer Research Facility, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), highlights the potential of nanotechnology in medicine, particularly in anti-cancer therapy, she said: "The study demonstrates how nano-formulation can enhance the anti-cancer therapeutic efficacy of natural compounds like curcumin, representing a significant milestone in cancer research and opening new avenues for developing more effective and safer treatments. This has the potential to significantly improve the clinical prognosis of colorectal cancer patients.”To make the nanoparticles even better at targeting colon cancer cells, the scientists plan to attach specific antibodies to their surface that are known to bind to these cancer cells. Additionally, they aim to make the nanoparticles smaller so that they can enter cancer cells more easily. By making the nanoparticles target colon cancer cells more specifically, the researchers hope to reduce the side effects associated with conventional chemotherapy that can harm both cancerous and healthy cells.The study, titled "Studies on anti-colon cancer potential of nanoformulations of curcumin and succinylated curcumin in mannosylated chitosan,” was published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, in collaboration with University of Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC). The project was funded by the International Research Collaboration Co-fund (IRCC) grant: IRCC-2021-006 and QU student grant # QUST-1-CPH-2020-21.