Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.): Chemical Components and Their Effective Clinical Applications

Abstract

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) is widely utilized as a spice, food colorant, and preservative in India, China, and South-East Asia. With containing potential turmeric extracts and compounds, it has been utilized in traditional medicine for various diseases counting diabetes, hepatitis, hemorrhoids, hysteria, indigestion, skin disease, inflammation, anorexia, hepatic disorders, cough, and sinusitis, etc. So far, a large number of work has been conducted to find and prove biological activities and pharmacological applications of turmeric and its extracts in both animals and humans. In particular, curcumin (diferuloylmethane), a characteristic component with major yellow bioactive turmeric feature, has been found to possess numerous biological actions. Nonetheless, the polyphenol compound in curcumin has been limited for human disease treatments even though adequate studies are utilized in animal trials. Plenty of ongoing studies are also contributing significantly to this promising molecule that to the forefront of human therapeutics as well as its activities in health benefits. Thus, curcumin and some turmeric extracts are considered as non-toxic and highly promising compounds with a lot of potentially biological functions based on an appropriately used dose. It is expected that curcumin and some turmeric extracts can be explored in novel medical applications in the future to effectively against or treat various diseases. Here, we hope that it is likely a good and right approach for using and encouraging this product, and its chemical components and effective clinical applications will be briefly summarized in disease treatments.

Curcumin nanocapsules effect in apoptotic processes, gene expression, and cell cycle on Hep-G2 cell lines

“…Curcumin is one of the most often utilized native compounds found in the essential fraction of Curcuma longa L. It has various defensive properties. 30 Our research concentrated on ball milling and nanoencapsulation method due to limited water solubility, low oral bioavailability, and quick curcumin metabolism. The potential for treating and preventing several human illnesses exists with nanocurcumin, a promising therapeutic candidate with advantageous medicinal qualities.…”

Skin Pigmentation Types, Causes and Treatment—A Review

“…It has a yellow tint, and various health advantages, due to the presence of the active component curcumin, when it comes to pigmentation and skin conditions. The strong anti-inflammatory qualities found in curcumin can help lessen the skin inflammation brought on by a variety of skin conditions, including psoriasis and eczema [ 148 , 149 , 150 , 151 ]. Antioxidants included in turmeric extract reduce oxidative damage that can cause skin aging, and pigmentation disorders such as melasma, by neutralizing free radicals [ 152 ].…”

Understanding of genes encoding bioactive compounds from potential medicinal plants in Indonesia as cancer cell inhibitors

“…Curcuma domestica or Curcuma longa, also known as turmeric, which belongs to the same plant family as ginger (Zingiberaceae), has its own unique qualities. Common uses for turmeric include culinary preparation, food coloring, cosmetics, and herbal medicine preparations (Subositi and Wahyono 2019;Tomeh et al 2019;Vo et al 2021). The primary bioactive components of this plant work as anticarcinogens by causing cell apoptosis, which stops the spread of cancer cells.…”

“…Curcumin in C. longa, for example, has mechanisms for causing apoptosis as well as limiting tumor growth and migration by decreasing numerous cellular signaling pathways. Curcumin has been found in various studies to exhibit anticancer action in cancers of the breast, lungs, neck and head squamous cell tumors, cancer of the prostate, and tumors of the brain (Vo et al 2021), suggesting that it has the potential to attack various types of cancer cells.…”

“…In Indonesia, the use of medicinal plants has greatly developed into medicine. Plants such as M. oleifera and C. longa can be used as medication to boost endurance and the body's defense system against disease-causing viruses or bacteria (Tomeh et al 2019;Vo et al 2021). Zingiber officinale and P. niruri are also therapeutic herbs that work as immune system regulators and prevent kidney stones and hepatitis.…”