Turmeric Herb Information
Botanical Name : Curcuma Longa
English/Common Name : Turmeric
Ayurvedic Name : Haldi
Part Used : Tubers and Rhizome
Habitat and Botany : Zingiberaceae, A native of India and Indonesia,Turmeric is a perennial with pulpy, orange, tuberous roots that grow to about two feet in length. The aerial parts, which reach three feet, include Large, lily-like leaves, a thick, squat, central flower spike, and funnel-shaped yellow flowers.
Constituents and Active Compounds
The active constituent is curcumin. It has been shown to have a wide range of therapeutic effects. First, it protects against free radical damage because it is a strong antioxidant. It reduces inflammation. It accomplishes this by reducing histamine levels and by increasing production of natural cortisone by the adrenal glands. It protects the liver from a number of toxic compounds. It has been shown to reduce platelets from clumping together, which in turn, improves circulation and helps protect against atherosclerosis. Numerous studies have also shown cancer-preventing effects of curcumin. This may be due to its powerful antioxidant activity in the body. As a powerful antioxidant it has shown greater effects in preventing free radical damage compared to vitamin C, vitamin, E and superoxide dismutase.
Pharmacology
Many studies on turmeric have revealed that the herb contains cholagogue-type substances which increase the secretion of bile. Principal among these substances is curcumin which also possesses liver protective activity, detoxifying dangerous carcinogens, stimulating the gall bladder and acting as a free-radical scavenger. Curcumin has cholekinotic activity (bile duct stimulation). It has been suggested that turmeric lowers blood cholesterol through these various choleric effects. Turmerics effect on weight loss may also be mediated through curcumins catabolic and metabolic activities on fats. Studies have also revealed that curcumin has anti-inflammatory properties, inhibiting platelet aggregation and cyclooxgenase and lipoxygenase enzymes which catalyze the formation of inflammatory prosteglandins and molecules. Curcumin requires the presence of the adrenal glands to have this non-steroidal anti-inflammatory activity.
Ayurvedic Study of Uses
Turmeric is a very important herb in Ayurvedic medicine. A symbol of prosperity, it was considered a cleansing herb for the whole body. Medically, it was used as a digestive aid and treatment for fever, infections, dysentery, arthritis and jaundice and other liver problems. Traditional Chinese physicians used turmeric to treat liver and gallbladder problems, stop bleeding, and treat chest congestion and menstrual discomforts. Turmeric has long been considered an essential flavoring spice of Indian and other ethnic cuisines. Turmeric provides the typical yellow color of may curry dishes and helps to render food more digestible. Turmeric along with other curry herbs has several physiologic activities, including the inhibition of platelet aggregation antibiotic effects, anticholesteral action and fibrinlytic activity.
Ayurvedic applications
Action: Alterative, antheimintic, antibacterial/antibiotic, aromatic, carminative, stimulant, tonic, vulnerary
Uses
Amenorrhea, anemia, arthritis, blood purifier, blood tissue formation, circulation, cooking spice, cough, diabetes, worms, jaundice, eye problems, fevers, gas, hemorrhoids, edema, indigestion, ligament stretching, metabolism regulator; mucus relief, and hysteria (from inhaling fumes); pharyngitis, protein digesting, skin disorders, abscess, urinary diseases, wound and bruise healer; a natural antibiotic which also improves intestinal flora; inflammatory bowel syndrome (e.g., ulcerative colitis), Chron's Disease, chronic hepatitis, chronic bronchial asthma, psoriasis, all inflammatory conditions. External-acne, insect bites, sore eyes, with honey or aloe gel for bruises or sprains.
In India, turmeric is used for the treatment of anorexia, liver disorders, cough, diabetic wounds, rheumatism, and sinusitis. It is currently being evaluated for its anticarcinogenic and antimutagenic properties.
Wound Treatment : Sprinkle a bit of turmeric on cuts and scrapes after they have been thoroughly washed. The turmeric, with its antibacterial action, will prevent the bacterial wound infections.
Digestive Aid : Turmeric helps stimulate the flow of bile, which helps digest fats.
Intestinal Parasites : Turmeric fights protozoans in laboratory tests, supporting its traditional use in treating dysentery.
Liver Protection : Curcumin has a protective effect on liver tissue exposed to liver damaging drugs. It had been traditionally used for liver ailments. Consuming alcohol regularly or using the pain killer acetaminophen (Tylenol) tends to increase the risk for liver damage; turmeric may help in minimizing this damage to some extent.
Arthritis : Turmeric's anti-inflammatory action helps relieve wound inflammation and in treating arthritis.
Heart Protection : Studies have shown that turmeric may help reduce cholesterol. It is also shown to prevent the internal blood clots that trigger heart attack and some strokes.
Others : Recent studies show promising results on the use of turmeric to treat cancer. It is believed to inhibit the growth of lymphoma tumor cells. Another study has shown that turmeric helps prevent tumor development in animals.
Historical uses : Hepatitis, Indigestion, Gall Bladder or Liver disease, Bile Duct problems, Obesity, Arthritis, As a cholagogue, as an anti-inflammatory, as a heptoprotective, as a gallbladder tonic, as a cancer preventive. Toxicity, Cautions & Contraindications: No known toxicity. Large doses are not recommended in cases of painful gall stones, obstructive jaundice, acute bilious colic and extremely toxic liver disorders.
Safety : Turmeric is extremely safe. It has been used in large quantities as a food with no adverse reactions. However, persons with symptoms from gallstones should avoid turmeric. Turmeric's potential anti-clotting effect might cause problems with those with clotting disorders. Unusually large amount of turmeric consumption may result in stomach upset. Do not take Turmeric if you are pregnant. FDA lists turmeric as a herb that is normally considered safe.
References
1. C.F.H.Su, R. Horvat and G. Jilani, J. Agric. Food Chem., 1982, 30, 290-292.
2. G. Jilani and R.C. Saxena, Journal of Economic Entomology, 1990, Vol. 83(2), 629-634.
Pharmacology of Curcuma Longa: Ammon HP, Wahi MA Department of Pharmacology, Eberhard-Karls-Universitat Tubingen, Federal Republic of Germany.
The date reviewed indicate that extracts of Curcuman longa exhibit anti-inflammatory activity after parenteral application in standard animal models used for testing anti-inflammatory activity. It turned out that curcumin and the volatile oil are at least in part responsible for this action it appears that when given, orally, curcumin is far less active than after i.p. administration, This may be due to poor absorption, as discussed. Data on histamine-induced ulcers are controversial, and studies on the secretory activity (HCI, pepsinogen) are still lacking. In vitro, curcumin exhibited antispasmodic activity. Since there was a protective effect of extracts of Curcuma longa on the liver and a stimulation of bile secretion in animals, Curcuma longa has been advocated for use in liver disorders. Evidence for an effect on liver disease in humans is not yet available. From the facts that after oral application only traces of curcumin were found the blood and that on the other hand most of the curcumin is excreted via the feces it may be concluded that curcumin is absorbed poorly by the gastrointestinal tract and/or underlies presystemic transformation. systemic effects therefore seem to be questionable after oral application except that they occur at very low concentrations of curcumin. This does not exclude a local action in the gastrointestinal tract.
Publication Types
a. Review
b. Review, tutorial
PMID: 2062949, UI: 91288683 Chemopreventive effect of curcumin, a naturally occurring anti-inflammatory agent, during the promotion/progression stages of colon cancer.
Kawamori T., Lubet R, Steele VE, Kellof GJ, Kaskey RB, Rao CV, Reddy BS
Division of Nutritional Carcinogenesis, American health Foundation, Valhalla, New York 10595, USA.
Curcumin, derived from the rhizome of Curcuma longa L. and having both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, inhibits chemically induced carcinogenesis in the skin, forestomach, and colon when it is administered during initiation and/or postinitiation stages. This study was designed to investigate the chemopreventive action of curcumin when it is administered (late in the premalignant stage) during the promotion/progression stage of colon carcinogenesis in male F344 rats. We also studied the modulating effect of this agent on apoptosis in the tumors. At 5 weeks of age, groups of male F344 rats were fed a control diet containing no curcumin and an experimental AIN-76A diet with 0.2% synthetically derived curcumin (purity, 99.9%). At 7 and 8 weeks of age, rats intended for carcinogen treatment were given s.c. injections of azoxymethane (AOM) at a dose rate of 15 mg/kg body weight per week. Animals destined for the promotion/progression study received the AIN-76A control diet for 14 weeks after the second AOM treatment and were the sacrificed. The results confirmed our earlier study in that administration of 0.2% curcumin during both the initiation and postinitiation period significantly inhibited colon tumorigenesis. In addition, administration of 0.2% and of 0.6% of the synthetic curcumin in the diet during the promotion/progression state significantly suppressed the incidence and multiplicity of noninvasive adenocarcinomas of the colon was, in fact, dose dependent. Administration of curcumin to the rats during the initiation and postinitiation stages and throughout the promotion/progression stage increased apoptosis in the colon tumors as compared to colon tumors in the groups receiving AOM and the control diet. Thus, chemopreventive activity of curcumin is observed when it is administered prior to, during, and after carcinogen treatment as well as when it is given only during the promotion/progression phase (starting late in premalignant stage) of colon carcinogenesis
.PMID: 9973206, UI: 99137491
The anti-oxidant activity of turmeric (Curcuma longa).
Selvam R, Subramanian L., Gayathri R, Angayarkanni N.
Department of Medical Biochemistry, Dr. A.L. Mudaliar Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani, India.
The turmeric anti-oxidant protein (TAP) had been isolated from the aqueous extract of turmeric. The anti-oxidant principle was found to be a heat stable protein. Trypsin treatment abolished the anti-oxidant activity. The anti-oxidant principle had an absorbency maximum at 280 nm. after gel filtration; the protein showed a 2-fold increase in anti-oxidant activity and showed 2 bands in the SDS-PAGE with approximate molecular with range of 24,000 Da. The protein showed a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on the promoter induced lipid peroxidation. A 50% inhibitory activity of lipid peroxidation was observed at a protein concentration of 50 micrograms/ml. Ca(2+)-ATPase of rant brain homogenate was protected to nearly 50% of the initial activity from the lipid peroxidant induced inactivation by this protein. This protection of CA(2+)ATPase activity was found to be associated with the prevention of loss of -SH groups.
Side Effects : No significant side effects information is available so far.
According to Ayurveda, herbs are taken in combination with other herbs to neutralize the toxicity of one herb with the opposing effect of the other or to enhance the particular effect of one herb with the help of other.
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