Turmeric, the yellow curry spice often used in Asian cuisine, has been found to contain a chemical that kills cancerous cells. The chemical in question – curcumin – has long been the object of interest amongst scientists and has been subject to numerous studies. The latest piece of research, done at the Cork Cancer Research Centre in Ireland, has shown that curcumin can destroy gullet cancer cells. This finding has led to optimism that the natural chemicals found in turmeric will be developed into new treatments for oesophageal cancer – the sixth most common cause of cancer death in Europe.