by Claudia Nicolae
Wilkes University
Wilkes-Barre, PA
July 2015
Curcuma longa (turmeric) is an herbaceous perennial plant
belonging to the Zingiberaceae (ginger family). The plant has
intricately branched, yellow or orange, cylindrical, scented
rhizomes and its leaves are alternating and set in two lines. It is
indigenous to India, and requires a temperature that ranges from 20
to 30 °C and substantial amount of annual precipitation to thrive
(Prasad and Aggarwal 2011). Turmeric is prevalent from humid West
African region to Eastern Polynesia and is customarily very
significant in Micronesia (Thomas-Eapen, 2009).
Turmeric's benefits are remarkable and it can cure a wide range of
sicknesses that include cancer of bladder, lung cancer, and elevated
blood cholesterol among others. Its exceptional anti-inflammatory
and antibacterial aspects have made it a valuable commodity for many
years (Mostajeran, Gholaminejad & Asghari, 2014). The rhizomes
are usually boiled and then ground into a yellow residue normally
used as a flavor in Indian and Pakistani cuisine (Thomas-Eapen,
2009).
The main chemical constituent of turmeric is a collection of
compounds referred to as curcuminoids that consist of curcumin and
demethoxycurcumin. The most studied element is curcumin, which
comprises up to 3.14% of prepared turmeric (Thavorn, Mamdani &
Sharon, 2014).
Curcumin is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent and antioxidant
(Luthra, Singh & Chandra, 2001). In a study conducted to
determine the antioxidant activity of 23 spices, turmeric was ranked
as the second most active spice (Lin et al, 2015; Sahebkar et al.,
2015). The microsome and liver homogenates of turmeric-fed rats
yielded lipid peroxidation values of 35% and 29%, respectively,
compared to rats on a control diet (Bourinbaiar & Lee, 1996;
Mishra & Palanivelu, 2008; Youssef & El-Sherbeny, 2005).
In a study by Garcea et al (2004) to determine the impact of Curcuma
longa extract on 18 healthy men during a 75-day period, the
levels of serum lipid peroxide was significantly reduced following
45 days of treatment. Elsewhere, curcuminoids, as present in
turmeric was found to offer protection to normal human keratinocytes
against xanthine/hypoxanthine oxidase injury (Bourinbaiar & Lee,
1996), indicating that the superoxide radical formation was
decreased. The role of curcumin as a powerful scavenger of free
radicals has been documented in various studies involving rabbits
(Sreejayan & Rao, 1996), while administering antioxidant
curcumin orally to rats led to a significant reduction in lung
fibrosis (Manhas et al., 2014; Sari et al., 2014). The anticancer
activity of turmeric has also been documented by several studies,
for example, Lu et al. (2009) and Wilken et al. (2011) where the
administration of turmeric extracts led to reduced concentrations in
tumor burden and lipid peroxidation (Sharma et al., 2010).
Studies have been conducted to determine the anti-inflammation and
toxicity properties of curcumin in animals, human, and in vitro
studies. In phase 1 human trial in which 25 subjects consumed nearly
800 mg curcumin daily for 90 days, the researchers did not find any
toxicity from curcumin (Chainani-Wa, 2003). Regarding the adverse
side effects of turmeric, “in vitro, curcumin exhibits
anti-parasitic, anti-inflammatory, and gastrointestinal effects”
(Araujo and Leon, 2001). Turmeric has been declared by the FDA (Food
and Drug Administration) as a GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe)
substance (Sharma et al., 2010). The clinical studies conducted by
various researchers have not reported any major side effects
(O'Sullivan-Coyne, O'Sullivan & O'Donovan, 2009). Even among
rheumatoid arthritis patients to whom 1200mg/day of curcumin was
administered for two weeks, no side effects were reported (Mishra
& Palanivelu, 2008). On the other hand, a few studies have
reported rare cases of allergic dermatitis upon the administration
of curcumin patients with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) in a
clinical study (Moorthi et al., 2012; Suresh & Srinivasan,
2010).
Turmeric has numerous health advantages that overshadow its
drawbacks. The plant has health promoting vital oils like termerone
and p-cymene. Its chemical element identified as curcumin contains
anti-tumor as well as anti-inflammatory features (Singletary, 2010).
Turmeric does not have cholesterol although it is loaded with
anti-oxidants, which are useful in controlling bad cholesterol
levels. When consumed in large amount, it can cause queasiness,
stomachache and sweating. Although turmeric presents numerous
advantages to cancer patients, a number of turmeric supplements can
also have an effect on the usefulness of certain cancer medicines
and chemotherapy treatment (Singletary, 2010). The possibility of
these side effects however can be eradicated if turmeric is taken
with ordinary diet and when supplements are taken within the
prescribed amount.
LITERATURE CITED
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This paper was developed as part of the BIO 368 - Medical Botany
course offered at Wilkes University during the summer of 2015.
Course instructor was Kenneth M. Klemow, Ph.D. (kenneth.klemow@wilkes.edu).
The
information contained herein is based on published sources, and is
made available for academic purposes only. No warrantees, expressed
or implied, are made about the medical usefulness or dangers
associated with the plant species in question.