Turmeric is a miracle plant with many of its traditional medicinal properties getting validated in scientific studies. It is an extensively researched species. The medicinal properties of curcumin have been subjected to human clinical trials, and it is close to getting inducted as a modern drug.
History
Turmeric spices have been used in India since the earliest times, as we know from the analysis of pots from the Indus Valley Civilization (c 2200 BC to 1800 BC). (Weber et al., 2011).
Since the Indus Valley Civilization, there has been extensive trade with India between the Assyrians, Mesopotamians, and Persians.
Ancient tablets of Ashurbanipal (7th century BC) have listed large numbers of aromatic spices that were in use in the region, one that includes turmeric. Turmeric was probably used both in cuisine and as medicine. King Merodach-baladan II (721-710 BC) kept records of the different species of plants, including herbs and spices, cultivated in his garden (Tapsell, 2006).
It finds mention in the Ebers Papyrus (c. 1500 BC) from Egypt where, as in India, ii cleans wounds and is an anti-septic. Turmeric is mixed with honey to prepare an external ointment.
In India, turmeric and clarified butter are heated, and cream is used to treat wounds. Turmeric enhances circulation in the affected region and aids the healing process. Hindus regard turmeric as highly auspicious. The Mahabharata refers to the application of turmeric to purify the body. Even today, the tradition of applying turmeric paste on the groom and bride in Hindu weddings continues.
Dioscorides, too, lists turmeric as a medicinal remedy. He refers to it as a yellow spice. He relates the spice to ginger. Theophrastus (317-287 BC), in his writings, calls it an aromatic spice, "khroma," meaning "color" in Greek. The Roman Emperor Diocletian (284-305 AD) mentions what he refers to as the Arabian saffron, probably because turmeric was supplied to the Roman army by Arabian merchants. Arabian traders brought turmeric to the region from India.
Medicinal properties
Curcumin is the yellow pigment in turmeric spice. The chemical composition of turmeric has been studied. The most important chemical components of turmeric are a group of compounds called curcuminoids. It includes curcumin (diferuloylmethane), desmethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin. Curcumin constitutes 3.14% (on average) of powdered turmeric and gives the spice its peppery taste.
Curcumin is the bioactive compound found in turmeric. Araujo et al. (2001) and Aggarwal et al. (2007 and 2009) have noted curcumin's anti-cancer, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-fungal, and gastrointestinal actions. It is also helpful in treating liver and other ailments. Curcumin prevents Alzheimer's disease (Balasubramanian, 2006; Yanagisawa et al., 2010; Yang et al., 2004; Lee, 2002; and Tomiyama, 2010).
The turmeric plant is a perennial herbaceous plant from the ginger family. Turmeric is the boiled and dried rhizome of this plant.
Turmeric is used extensively in cosmetics and skincare products. Several turmeric-based skincare products, like creams, body scrubs, anti-aging, anti-wrinkle formulations, etc., are sold in South Asia and the Middle East. Turmeric gives the skin softness and glow.
Saraf et al. (2011) studied and validated a cosmetic cream's anti-aging, anti-wrinkle action with Curcuma longa.
Curcumin is turmeric's yellow pigment and has been used as medicine for centuries. Curcuminoids have been extracted from turmeric (Kulkarni et al., 2012).
Pharmacological reviews are undertaken by Ammon et al. (1991), Jurenka (2009), and others to validate curcumin's anti-inflammatory properties. Curcumin, the active compound in the spice, exhibits anti-spasmodic activity. It was seen to stimulate bile secretion in animals and help treat liver disorders.
Anti-cancer properties
Jagetia and Aggarwal at the Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, US, write, "Interestingly, curcumin at low doses can also enhance antibody responses. It suggests curcumin's reported beneficial effects in arthritis, allergy, asthma, atherosclerosis, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and cancer. The action might partly be due to its ability to modulate the immune system."
Araujo and Leon (2001), Anand et al. (2007), and Aggarwal et al. (2009) have noted the anti-cancer, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-fungal, and gastrointestinal actions of curcumin. It is also helpful in treating liver and other ailments.
Anti-cancer properties of turmeric have also been reported (Basnet et al., 2011).
Curcumin boosts BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), a protein and brain hormone. It increases the growth of new neurons and fights various degenerative processes in the brain.
Researchers from the Cancer Biology Research Center, South Dakota, claim curcumin may be an effective chemopreventive and therapeutic agent for preventing and treating cervical cancer. They found that curcumin treatment suppresses growth in cervical cancer cells by altering the HPV-associated molecular pathways.
The anti-cancer action of curcumin is attributed to its ability to inhibit a cancer master switch called nuclear factor kappa beta. Inflammation is said to fuel the nuclear factor kappa beta activity, which is claimed to account for 95% of all cancers. Cancer activity is also indicated by high levels of interleukin 6 (IL6) in the blood.
Preclinical and phase 1 clinical trial in various cancers have been conducted. These show that curcumin may be useful in treating human colon cancer (Azuine & Bhide, 1994). It has further been shown that curcumin inhibits proliferation and helps kill cancer cells. These are attributed to the ability of this molecule to interfere in the functioning of cancer-causing genes (Bar-Sela & Schaffer, 2011) positively.
Researchers from the Cancer Biology Research Center, South Dakota, claim curcumin may be an effective chemopreventive and therapeutic agent for preventing and treating cervical cancer. They found that curcumin treatment suppresses growth in cervical cancer cells by altering the HPV[4]-associated molecular pathways. Basic research appears to validate curcumin's ability to stop several cancer stages.
Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials need to be undertaken to prove the effectiveness of curcumin in helping colon cancer patients. So far, the scientific evidence favoring curcumin appears promising. Still, we can only be sure when these have been validated in trials. These validate traditional turmeric's anti-cancer medicinal use.
Ar turmerone isolated from turmeric is said to suppress the growth of leukemia cells (Kuo et al., 1996).
Sharma et al. (2004) have shown the efficacy of curcumin. The effectiveness comes from the action of the glutathione S-transferase enzyme. It also comes from prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production inhibition and suppression of oxidative DNA adduct (M1G) formation.
Other medicinal actions
A pharmacological review was undertaken by Ammon & Wahl (1991), Jurenka (2009), and others to validate curcumin's anti-inflammatory properties. Curcumin, the active compound in the spice, exhibits anti-spasmodic activity. It was seen to stimulate bile secretion in animals and help treat liver disorders.
Turmeric is water-soluble and contains oxalates. It thins the blood and so is contraindicated with aspirin and warfarin. It is placed in the "generally recognized as safe" category of food additives by the FDA.