Doctors at the University of Rochester Medical Center have been developing a compound that helps treat a variety of diseases. YNN's Casey Bortnick has more.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- After years of testing and retesting, Dr. Chawnshang Chang and others have developed a compound that treat acne, baldness and even cancer.

"This is a real exciting experience because from day one, our hypothesis hit correctly," said Dr. Chang, University of Rochester Medical College.

Growing up in Taiwan, Dr. Chang knew the health benefits of ginger spices. Through study he discovered that compounds related to curcumin, a main ingredient in curry, can impact the production of a well-known hormone.

"There are several conditions, some are diseases, some aren't full diseases, which depend upon testosterone," said Dr. Edward Messing, University of Rochester Medical Center.

Dr. Messing is a urologist at the University of Rochester Medical Center. He said the idea is to target the receptor in the body that activates the hormone and shut it down,

"It won't only stop the one male sex hormone in testosterone, but all the cousin molecules as well, because they all have to work through an androgen receptor," explained Dr. Messing.

There are already medications designed to block the negative effects of testosterone, but Dr. Messing said they don't work that well, and although the hormone can be beneficial, Dr. Messing said in the cases he's referring to, it's not.

"Where actually the most pressing matter they face is not muscle mass, or other things, it's this cancer that's going to beat them up and kill them," said Dr. Messing.

A topical cream to fight acne and baldness is already being developed. An oral medication to fight prostate cancer is also in the works. Dr. Chang said patents have already been issued.