Pharmaceutical and nutritional properties of turmeric

1. ABSTRACT

● Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is one of the oldest medicinal plants, which has been used
since ancient times. Turmeric derived from the Zingiberaceae family and curcumin is the
bioactive component in the turmeric.

● Extensive research has proven that most of the turmeric activities are due to curcumin.
The purpose of this review was to provide a brief summary of the medicinal and
nutritional value of curcumin.

● Turmeric is a good source of macro and micronutrients such as protein, energy, vitamin
and minerals, and it is known for various medicinal properties with antioxidant activities
and is useful in conditions such as inflammation, ulcer and cancer.

● It also has antifungal, antimicrobial, renal and hepatoprotective activities. Therefore,

turmeric is widely used in the treatment of various diseases such as diabetes,
osteoarthritis etc. The nutrient content present in the curcumin longa is in significant
amounts, so it can be helpful in combating the nutrient deficiency.

Keywords - Curcuma longa, curcumin, golden spice, and anti-inflammatory , anti-fungal ,

anti-biotics ,anti-cancerous.
ROS - Reactive oxygen species, Nrf2 - Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2

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 Pharmaceutical and nutritional properties of turmeric

2. INTRODUCTION

● Turmeric is a plant that has a very lengthy history of medicinal use since almost 4000
years. In Southeast Asia, turmeric is no longer used as an important spice but also used
in spiritual ceremonies.

● It is used due to its wonderful yellow color, turmeric is likewise called "Indian
saffron." Modern-day remedy has begun to apprehend its importance, as indicated by
using the over 3000 publications coping with turmeric that got here out inside the
ultimate 25 years.

● Using turmeric dates back almost 4000 years to the Vedic culture in India, wherein
it turned into used as a culinary spice and had some religious importance.

● It likely reached China by means of 700 AD, East Africa by 800, and West Africa
by 1200 AD, and Jamaica within the eighteenth century.

● In 1280, Marco Polo defined this spice, marveling at a vegetable that exhibited features
just like that of saffron.

● Susruta's Ayurvedic Compendium, courting returned to 250 BC, recommends

an ointment containing turmeric to alleviate the consequences of poisoned
meals.

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 Pharmaceutical and nutritional properties of turmeric

3. SEARCHING METHODS

● In some parts of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh turmeric is applied on the bride and groom
skin before marriage to make skin glow, shine, and helps to keep harmful bacteria away
from the body.

● The multinational companies for the formulation of various sunscreen and face creams
mostly use turmeric.

● In both traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, turmeric is known as

carminative and bitter digestive.

● Turmeric also acts as a dietary supplement as a digestive stimulant that increases

the activities of chymotrypsin, amylase and pancreatic lipase.

● Turmeric paste is used to heal wounds or to protect against infection. Turmeric is

also effective against neuronal, cardiac, and kidney disorders.

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 Pharmaceutical and nutritional properties of turmeric

4. PHYTOCOMPONENTS OF TURMERIC

● The medicinal properties of turmeric, the supply of curcumin, were regarded for many
years. Curcumin is also referred to as diferuloylmethane, is the principle herbal
polyphenol observed inside the rhizome of Curcuma longa (turmeric) and in others
Curcuma spp.

● Curcuma longa has been historically used in Asian countries as a medical herb
because of its antioxidant, antimutagenic, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties.

● The energetic parts of turmeric are the flavonoid Curcuminoids that aggregate
curcumin (diferuloylmethane), monodexmethoxycurcumin and
bisdesmethoxycurcumin. Curcumin makes up approximately 90% of the curcuminoid
content material in turmeric.

● The best-researched energetic constituent is curcumin, which comprises 35.4% of

uncooked turmeric. Turmeric incorporates 69.4% carbohydrates, 6.3% protein,
5.1%
fats, 3.5% minerals, and 13.1% moisture.

● Curcumin is a lipophilic polyphenol that is nearly insoluble in water, however

pretty stable in the acidic pH.

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 Pharmaceutical and nutritional properties of turmeric

5. NUTRITION VALUE OF TURMERIC

Table 1. Biological activity of turmeric and its compound

COMPOUND NAME BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY

Curcuma longa Antitumor, Anti-protozoan,

Anti-inflammatory and Wound-healing

Methylcurcumin Antiprotozoan

Demethoxycurcumin and Antioxidant

Bisdemethoxycurcumin

Curcumin Antibacterial, Antiprotozoan, Antiviral,

Antitumor and Antioxidant

● Turmeric is a major source of macro and micronutrients.

● It is rich in dietary fiber, food and a good source of energy.

● The vitamins and minerals content in the turmeric are significant.

● In ancient times turmeric was known as "Golden Spice" because of its various
nutritional and medicinal properties, which helps in prevention of many diseases and
also enriching the taste and color of the food.

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 Pharmaceutical and nutritional properties of turmeric

Table 2. Major nutrient in Turmeric per 100g

CONSTITUENTS AMOUNTS
Ash 6.13 g

Total fat 5.03 g

Carbohydrate 49.22 g

Table 3. Vitamins content in Turmeric per 100g

CONSTITUENTS AMOUNT

Thiamine 0.06 mg

Riboflavin 0.01 mg

Niacin 1.55 mg

Table 4. Minerals content in Turmeric per 100g

CONSTITUENTS AMOUNT
Calcium 122 mg

Iron 46.08 mg

Copper 0.44 mg

Sodium 24.41 mg

Zinc 2.64 mg

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 Pharmaceutical and nutritional properties of turmeric

6. PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY OF TURMERIC

Turmeric is a medicinal plant and it has various therapeutic and pharmacologic activities.

• Antioxidant Activity : Curcumin lowers the production of reactive oxygen species in

vivo. Maintaining the activities of antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase,
catalase and glutathione peroxidise. Since Reactive oxygen species have been implicated
in the development of various pathological conditions, Turmeric has the capability to
control these diseases by its potent antioxidant activity.

• Gastrointestinal Effects : Turmeric exerts several protective effects on the human

intestine. Turmeric also inhibits ulcer formation caused by stress, alcohol,
Indomethacin, reserpine, pyloric ligation, increasing gastric wall mucus in rats subjected
to those gastrointestinal insults. It also inhibits intestinal spasm and increases
bicarbonate, gastrin, secretin and pancreatic enzyme secretion. An open, phase II
clinical trial performed on 25 patients with endoscopically-diagnosed peptic ulcer, with
600 mg powdered turmeric five times daily, results showed that 48 percent of patients
were completely healed.

• Osteoarthritis : Researches reveal that taking turmeric extracts, alone or along with
other herbal ingredients, can be helpful in pain management, and also improve the
functions in people with knee osteoarthritis. In some research, turmeric worked about
also as ibuprofen for reducing osteoarthritis pain.

• Diabetes Mellitus : Turmeric rhizome powder is very useful with Amla juice and
Honey in Madhumeha (diabetes mellitus). The ingestion of 6 g turmeric increased
postprandial serum insulin levels, but didn't seem to affect plasma glucose levels or
Gastrointestinal, in healthy subjects. The results indicate that Curcuma longa may have
an effect on insulin secretion.

• Hepatoprotective : The main constituents of turmeric rhizome ethanolic extract are

the flavonoid curcumin and various volatile oils, including tumerone, atlantone, and
zingiberene. The volatile oils and curcumin of Curcuma longa exhibit potent
antiinflammatory effects.

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 Pharmaceutical and nutritional properties of turmeric

7. USES OF TURMERIC IN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE

● Turmeric is widely used for medicinal purposes such as helps to relieve gas,
improves digestion, dispelling worms, regulates menstruation, relieves arthritis,
dissolving
gallstones and overall energy of the body. Turmeric and its paste are also used in many
ayurvedic applications like blood purification, remedial for skin conditions in Indian
country.

● In some parts of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh turmeric is applied on the bride and groom
skin before marriage to make skin glow, shine, and helps to keep harmful bacteria away
from the body. The multinational companies for the formulation of various sunscreen
and face creams mostly use turmeric. In both traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic
medicine,
turmeric is known as carminative and bitter digestive.

● Turmeric also acts as a dietary supplement as a digestive stimulant that increases the
activities of chymotrypsin, amylase and pancreatic lipase. Turmeric paste is used to
heal wounds or to protect against infection. Turmeric is also effective against neuronal,
cardiac, and kidney disorders.

8. CONCLUSIONS

● Curcuma longa (Turmeric), belonging to the Zingiberaceae family, is one of the

most useful herbal medicinal plants in ancient times and modern era.

● Turmeric is a stock of nutrients; the nutrient content is high in turmeric like protein
and dietary fibre. Turmeric is also a good source of macro and micro nutrition that
helps in
the regulatory function of the body and acts as a health supplement. It has various useful
effects of antioxidant activity and also useful in conditions such as inflammation, ulcer
and cancer.

● Therefore, it has the potential to fight against various diseases such as cancer, diabetes,
allergies, arthritis, Alzheimer's disease and other chronic and hard curable diseases.
Further investigation needs to be carried out on C. longa in order to know the concealed
areas and their practical clinical applications, which can be used for the welfare of
mankind.

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 Pharmaceutical and nutritional properties of turmeric

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