CURCUMA LONGA: BOON FOR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM WITH ITS BIOMEDICAL APPLICATION

Turmeric is a spice derived from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa, which is a member of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae). Turmeric constituents include the three curcuminoids: Curcumin (diferuloylmethane; the primary constituent and responsible for its vibrant yellow color), demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin, as well as volatile oils (tumerone, atlantone, and zingiberone), sugars, proteins, and resins. In the Ayurvedic tradition, turmeric, or “haldi” as it is known in Hindi. Turmeric is considered to be one of the most important herbs in the ayurvedictradition and used historically as a component of Indian Ayurvedic medicine since 1900 BCE to treat a wide variety of ailments including those of the skin, pulmonary, and gastrointestinal systems, aches, pains, wounds, sprains, and liver disorders. Extensive research in the latter half of the 20th century has identified curcumin as responsible for most of the biological activity of turmeric. Curcumin has been shown to exhibit anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-cancer hyperlipidemic, woundhealing and hepato- protective activities and thus has a potential against various malignant diseases, diabetes, allergies, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, and other chronic illnesses. Curcumin has been the subject of hundreds of published articles over the past three decades, studying its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cancer chemopreventive, and potentially chemotherapeutic properties. Safety evaluation studies indicate that curcumin is well tolerated at a very high dose without producing any toxic effect.