In the body, Curcumin functions as a free radical scavenger. It also reduces free radical production, functioning as an antioxidant. The cancer-fighting properties of Curcumin come from its ability to inhibit neuroglia cell proliferation. Curcumin inhibits lipooxygenase activity and is a specific inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2 expression. Curcumin inhibits the initiation of carcinogenesis by inhibiting the cytochrome P-450 enzyme activity and increasing the levels of glutathione-S-transferase. Basically, Curcumin appears to arrest cancer cells, stopping them before they can grow and spread throughout the rest of the organ and on to the rest of the body.