Next-Generation Therapeutics for Skin Cancer: Nutraceuticals

The 2018 document reviews the potential of nutraceuticals, particularly those derived from spices, in the treatment and prevention of skin cancer. It highlights the therapeutic properties of curcumin from turmeric, ginger, garlic, cloves, rosemary, saffron, and capsaicin, noting their anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antitumorigenic, and antioxidative effects. The document cites studies demonstrating the effectiveness of these compounds in inhibiting tumor growth and inducing apoptosis in cancer cells, with some also showing promise in dermatological applications such as alopecia areata and androgenetic alopecia. However, it emphasizes the need for more clinical trials to validate the findings from cell and animal models. The document also acknowledges the historical use of these spices in traditional medicine and the support of NIH grant number R21CA164218 for the work.