Two forms of the Indian yellow spice tumeric were studied to see if they could treat skin cancer. One form was an extract in alcohol (ethanol). An extract is a way of concentrating the active part of a drug, and separating it from the inactive components. It contains many components of tumeric. The other form was an ointment of curcumin. Curcumin is a single chemical. It is the active ingredient of tumeric. Both forms of tumeric were followed by remarkable symptomatic relief in patients with skin cancer. The odor of the sores were lessened in 90% of the cases. In almost all cases itching was less after treatment. Lesions dried up in 70% of the cases. In a few of those treated, 10%, the cancer was smaller and less painful. In many patients the improvement lasted for several months. They found a harmful side effect in only one of the 62 patients.
Turmeric and curcumin as topical agents in cancer …[Tumori. 1987]