A Review on Phytochemical and Pharmacological Properties of Turmeric the Golden Spice

Abstract

Globally, medicinal plants and their bioactive constituents have found practical applications in treating, managing, and preventing various human and animal diseases in complementary and orthodox medicines. Recently, it has been reported that about 80% of the world\'s population depends on medicinal plants and their phytoconstituents (bioactive compounds) for their primary health care. Curcuma longa, popularly known as Turmeric, is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant used in folk medicine for the treatment, prevention, and management of various illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, Arthritis, diarrhoea, inflammation, psoriasis, hepatobiliary diseases, gastric and peptic ulcers. In this review, the various pharmacological activities of C. longa might be attributed to the presence of numerous bioactive compounds. However, these varying potentials have not been effectively analysed for optimal application in developing new therapies.

Introduction

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a perennial medicinal herb from the Zingiberaceae family, widely cultivated in India and Southeast Asia. It is valued for its therapeutic potential, largely due to bioactive compounds called curcuminoids (curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin) and essential oils (turmerone, zingiberene, etc.). Turmeric has been used traditionally in culinary, medicinal, and veterinary practices for thousands of years.

Botanical and Geographic Details:

• Family: Zingiberaceae

• Scientific Name: Curcuma longa

• Plant Type: Herbaceous, rhizomatous, perennial, 3–5 ft tall

• Leaves & Flowers: Large oblong leaves; funnel-shaped yellow or white flowers

• Origin: Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia; widely cultivated in India (West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra)

• Climate: Tropical, 20–30°C with high rainfall

• Processing: Rhizomes are boiled/steamed, dried, and polished; powder is stable if protected from sunlight

Chemical Constituents:

• Curcuminoids: Curcumin (60–85%), demethoxycurcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin

• Essential Oils: Turmerone, zingiberene, cineol, borneol

• Other compounds: Sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, polyphenols, alkaloids, sterols, carbohydrates, proteins

Traditional Uses:

• Ayurvedic medicine: treats rheumatism, skin diseases, liver disorders, diarrhea, fevers, and digestive issues

• Veterinary medicine: wound healing

• Insect repellant and preservative in foods

• Supports liver function and gastrointestinal protection

Pharmacological Properties:
Turmeric exhibits a wide range of biological activities due to its synergistic phytochemicals:

1. Alzheimer’s disease: Crosses the blood-brain barrier, reduces amyloid plaques, scavenges free radicals

2. Anti-inflammatory & analgesic: Treats sprains, arthritis, and general inflammation

3. Antimicrobial: Effective against bacteria and pathogens

4. Anticancer: Induces apoptosis in cancer cells, inhibits tumor growth

5. Cardioprotective & anti-hyperlipidemic: Reduces LDL, raises HDL, protects heart tissue

6. Antioxidant: Comparable to vitamins C and E, scavenges reactive oxygen species

7. Hepatoprotective: Protects liver and supports recovery from jaundice or hepatitis

8. Gastrointestinal protection: Acts as carminative, anti-spasmodic, and digestive stimulant

9. Respiratory diseases & rheumatism: Anti-inflammatory, Kaphahara effects, improves rheumatoid arthritis symptoms

10. Other activities: Anti-diabetic, anticoagulant, anti-fertility, wound healing, radioprotective, and anti-HIV potential

Conclusion

Curcuma longa (turmeric) offers significant therapeutic potential due to its diverse pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer effects, largely attributed to its active component, curcumin. In this review, Studies demonstrate its promise effect for managing conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, analgesic, antibacterial, respiratory disease, rheumatoid arthritis, though further review for turmeric is needed to optimize for its uses and pharmacological potential.

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Sarfaraz Ali, Suraj Kumar, Sachin Kumar, Dr. Nakul Gupta, Bhawna Shridhar. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.