J HerbMed Pharmacol. 2014; 3(1): 5-8.

Journal of HerbMed Pharmacology

Journal homepage: http://www.herbmedpharmacol.com

Turmeric: A spice with multifunctional medicinal properties

Hamid Nasri1, Najmeh Sahinfard2, Mortaza Rafieian3, Samira Rafieian4, Maryam Shirzad5,
Mahmoud Rafieian-kopaei2*
1
Department of Internal Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
2
Medical Plants Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
3
Isfahan Governer Office, Isfahan, Iran
4
Pharmaceutical Faculty, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
5
Department of English Teaching, Faculty of Foreign Languages, Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran

ABSTRACT
ARTICLE INFO

Article Type: Curcuma longa (Turmeric), belonging to Zingiberaceae family is one of the most useful herbal
Mini Review medicinal plants. Extensive researches have proven that most of the turmeric activities of the
turmeric are due to curcumin. It has various useful properties with antioxidant activities and is
Article History: useful in conditions such as inflammation, ulcer and cancer. It also has antifungal, antimicrobial
Received: 2 March 2014 renal and hepatoprotective activities. Therefore, it has the potential against various cancer,
Accepted: 19 May 2014 diabetes, allergies, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease and other chronic and hard curable diseases.
ePublished: 1 June 2014 The purpose of this review was to provide a brief summary of the new and current knowledge
of the effects of curcumin. The recently published papers in international cites such as PubMed/
Keywords: Medline, Science Citation Index and Google Scholar about turmeric were searched. Recent
Curcuma longa studies have authenticated the use of turmeric for various diseases especially oxidative stress
Curcumin induced ones such as cancer, diabetes mellitus and inflammatory disorders. It also is used as
Pharmacology hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, anticoagulant and anti-HIV to combat AIDS. Curcumin, as
Phytochemistry a spice, exhibits great promise as a therapeutic agent. It has very low toxicity, too. As the global
Therapeutic effects scenario is now changing towards the use of non-toxic plant products having traditional medicinal
use, development of modern drugs from turmeric should be emphasized for the control of various
diseases. Further evaluation needs to be carried out on turmeric in order to explore the concealed
areas and their practical clinical applications, which can be used for the welfare of mankind.

Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education:

Curcuma longa has the potential against various cancer, diabetes, allergies, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease and other chronic and
hard curable diseases. Curcumin, as a spice, exhibits great promise as a therapeutic agent. As the global scenario is now changing
towards the use of non-toxic plant products, development of modern drugs from turmeric should be emphasized for the control
of various diseases.

Please cite this paper as: Nasri H, Sahinfard N, Rafieian M, Rafieian S, Shirzad M, Rafieian-kopaei M. Turmeric: A spice with
multifunctional medicinal properties. J HerbMed Plarmacol. 2014; 3(1): 5-8.

Introduction measures up to 1 m high with a short stem. Turmeric is

Medicinal plants have provided a reliable source for an essential spice all over the world with a distinguished
preparation of new drugs as well as combating diseases, human use particularly among the Eastern people (1).
from the dawn of civilization. The extensive survey of Apart from the uses as spice, it is used as traditional
the literature revealed that Curcuma longa L. or turmeric medicine in Asian countries such as India, Bangladesh
(from Zingiberaceae family) is highly regarded as a and Pakistan because of its beneficial properties (2). It
universal panacea in the herbal medicine with a wide is called turmeric (Zarchooveh in Iran) and has been in
spectrum of pharmacological activities. continuous use for its flavoring, and medicinal properties
Turmeric is a plant distributed throughout tropical and (3). Current traditional medicine claims its powder against
subtropical regions of the world. It is widely cultivated gastrointestinal diseases, especially for biliary and hepatic
in Asian countries, mainly in China and India. The plant disorder, diabetic wounds, rheumatism, inflammation,

*Corresponding author: Mahmoud Rafieian-kopaei, Medical Plants

Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord,
Iran. E-mail: rafieian@yahoo.com
Nasri H et al.

sinusitis, anorexia, coryza and cough (4). The coloring nyl-3-(4'-hydroxyphenyl- 3'-methoxy)-propenoate were
principle of turmeric is called curcumin, which has isolated along with five known bisabolane sesquiterpenes
yellow color and is the essential component of this from turmeric (7).
plant (4). Recent studies have authenticated turmeric as
anticancer, anti-diabetic, antioxidant, hypolipidemic, anti- Phytopharmacology of turmeric
inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-fertility, anti-venom, Turmeric has several therapeutic and pharmacologic
hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, anticoagulant, etc. activities. The following is the most important
The plant has also shown to possess anti HIV activity to phytopharmacology and therapeutic properties
combat AIDS. These medicinal properties of turmeric of turmeric.
caused it to be considered as a spice with multifunctional
medicinal properties. Antioxidant activity
Curcumin has been shown be a powerful scavenger
Phytocomponents of turmeric of oxygen free radicals. Its antioxidant activity is
Turmeric contains 69.4% carbohydrates, 6.3% protein, comparable to vitamins C and E (4). It can protect lipids
5.1% fat, 3.5% minerals, and 13.1%. moisture. The or hemoglobin from oxidation. It can significantly
essential oil (5.8%) obtained by steam distillation inhibit the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS)
possesses Sesquiterpenes (53%), zingiberene (25%), such as H2O2, superoxide anions and nitrite radical
a-phellandrene (1%), sabinene (0.6%), cineol (1%), generation by activated macrophages. Its derivatives, bis-
and borneol (0.5%). Curcumin (3–4%) is responsible demethoxycurcumin and demethoxycurcumin also have
for the yellow colour, and comprises curcumin I (94%), antioxidant activities (4).
curcumin II (6%) and curcumin III (0.3%) (Figure 1) (5). Curcumin pre-treatment has been shown to decrease
Demethoxy and bisdemethoxy derivatives of curcumin ischemia-induced oxidative stress and changes in the heart
have also been isolated from turmeric. Curcumin has a (5). An in vitro study measuring the effect of curcumin on
melting point at 176–177 °C; forms a reddish- brown salt an inducible stress protein, resulted in enhanced cellular
with alkali and is soluble in acetic acid, ethanol, alkali, resistance to oxidative damage (6).
ketone and chloroform (2).
Presence of tumerone a, tumerone b, curzerenone, Cardiovascular and anti-diabetic effects
curdione, mono- and di-demethoxycurcumin have been Turmeric exerts cardio-protective effects mainly by
reported in the rhizomes. The essential oils of leaves of C. antioxidant activity, lowering lipid peroxidation, anti-
longa have been analyzed by Gas Liquid Chromatography diabetic activity and inhibiting platelet aggregation. A
and reported to contain linalool, caryophyllene, study of 18 atherosclerotic rabbits given 1.6-3.2 mg/kg/day
geraniol, α-pinene, β-pinene, sabinene, myrcene, of turmeric extract demonstrated decreased susceptibility
α-phellandrene, 1,8-cineole, p-cymene, C8-aldehyde, and of LDL to lipid peroxidation, in addition to lower plasma
methyl heptanone (6). cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Turmeric effect on
A novel sesquiterpene, (6S)-2-methyl-6-(4- hydroxyphe- cholesterol levels may be due to decreased cholesterol
nyl-3-methyl)-2-hepten-4-one, two new bisabolane ses- uptake in the intestines and increased conversion of
quiterpenes, (6S)-2-methyl-6- (4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-hep- cholesterol to bile acids in the liver. Inhibition of platelet
ten-4-one, (6S)-2- methyl-6- (4-formylphenyl)-2-hepten- aggregation by turmeric constituents is thought to be via
4-one, and two calebin derivatives, 4"-(4"'-hydroxyphenyl- potentiation of prostacyclins synthesis and inhibition of
3"'-methoxy)- 2"-oxo-3"-butenyl-3-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)- thromboxane synthesis.
propenoate and 4"-(4"'-hydroxyphenyl)- 2"-oxo-3"-bute- Both turmeric decreases blood glucose level in diabetic
rats. Turmeric also decreases complications in diabetes
mellitus. Further clinical studies need to be performed in
this area to discover optimal dosages for cardiovascular
protection and lipid or glucose lowering activities (7).

Inflammatory and edematic disorders

Curcumin is a potent anti-inflammatory with specific
lipoxygenase- and COX-2- inhibiting properties. In
vitro, and in vivo studies have demonstrated its effects
at decreasing both acute and chronic inflammation.
Curcumin has inhibited edema at doses between 50
and 200 mg/kg, in mice. A 50% reduction in edema
was achieved with a dose of 48 mg/kg body weight,
with curcumin nearly as effective as cortisone and
phenylbutazone at similar doses. In rats, a lower dose
Figure 1. Various curcumins

6 Journal of HerbMed Pharmacology, Volume 3, Number 1, June 2014 http://www.herbmedpharmacol.com

 Turmeric: A medicinal spice

of 20-80 mg/kg decreased paw inflammation and been shown to inhibit the mutagenic induction effect of
edema. Curcumin also inhibited formaldehyde induced UV rays (8-12).
arthritis in rats at a dose of 40 mg/kg and demonstrated
no acute toxicity at doses up to 2 g/kg/day (8). Antimicrobial activity
In an animal study, rheumatoid arthritis induced by Turmeric has been shown to inhibit the growth of a variety
streptococcal cell wall, intraperitoneal injection of of bacteria, pathogenic fungi, and parasites. A study
turmeric extract containing 4 mg total curcuminoids/kg/ of chicks infected with Eimera maxima demonstrated
day for four days prior to induction of arthritis, inhibited that diets supplemented with 1% turmeric resulted in a
joint inflammation in both acute (75%) and chronic (68%) reduction in intestinal lesion and improved weight gain
phases. To test the efficacy of an oral preparation, a 30- (11). In another animal study, topically application of
fold higher dose of the curcuminoid preparation, given to turmeric oil inhibited dermatophytes and pathogenic
rats four days prior to arthritis induction, reduced joint fungi in guinea pigs at 7 days post-turmeric application
inflammation by 48% (9). (13). Curcumin has also been found to have moderate
activity against Plasmodium falciparum and Leishmania
Gastrointestinal effects major organisms (14).
Turmeric exerts several protective effects on the
gastrointestinal tract. Turmeric also inhibits ulcer Hepatoprotective and renoprotective effects of turmeric
formation caused by stress, alcohol, Indomethacin, Turmeric has been shown to have renoprotective
reserpine, pyloric ligation, increasing gastric wall mucus and hepatoprotective properties similar to silymarin.
in rats subjected to these gastrointestinal insults. It also Animal studies have demonstrated renoprotective and
inhibits intestinal spasm and increases bicarbonate, hepatoprotective effects of turmeric from a variety
gastrin, secretin and pancreatic enzyme secretion. An of hepatotoxic insults. The hepatoprotective and
open, phase II trial performed on 25 patients with renoprotective effects of turmeric are mainly due to its
endoscopically-diagnosed gastric ulcer, given 600 mg antioxidant properties, as well as its ability to decrease the
powdered turmeric five times daily, showed completely formation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (3-5). Turmeric
healed in 48 percent of patients. No adverse reactions and curcumin have also reversed fatty changes, biliary
or blood abnormalities were recorded (7). Curcumin hyperplasia and necrosis induced by aflatoxin production
reduced mucosal injury in mice with experimentally- (3). Sodium curcuminate, a salt of curcumin, also exerts
induced colitis. Ten days prior to induction of colitis, with choleretic effects by increasing biliary excretion of bile
1, 4, 6-trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid, administration of salts, cholesterol, and bilirubin, as well as increasing bile
50 mg/kg curcumin resulted in a significant reduction of solubility, therefore, possibly preventing and treating
diarrhea, neutrophil infiltration and lipid peroxidation cholelithiasis (4).
in colonic tissue. Also all indicators inflammation were
reduced and the symptoms improved (10). In rat models Alzheimer and turmeric
of experimentally-induced pancreatitis, curcumin was Epidemiological studies have suggested reduced risk of in
able to decrease inflammation. In cerulean or ethanol Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in patients with long-term use
induced pancreatitis, curcumin was also able to inhibit of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) which
the inflammatory mediators, resulted in amelioration may show the role of brain inflammation in Alzheimer’s
in disease severity as measured by histology, pancreatic disease. It also has been shown with increased cytokines
trypsin, serum amylase, and neutrophil infiltration (11). and activated microglia. It has been shown that curcumin
has NSAID like activity and reduces oxidative damage. To
Anti-cancer effect evaluate whether it could affect Alzheimer-like pathology,
Numerous animal studies have explored turmeric influence the effect of 160 ppm and 5000 ppm doses of dietary
on the carcinogenesis. Several studies have demonstrated curcumin on inflammation, oxidative damage, and plaque
that curcumin is able to inhibit carcinogenesis at three pathology were tested. Both doses significantly lowered
stages: angiogenesis, tumor promotion, and tumor oxidized proteins and IL-1, a proinflammatory cytokine
growth. In two studies of colon and prostate cancer, usually elevated in the brains of these mice. In view of its
curcumin was shown to inhibit cell proliferation and efficacy and apparent low toxicity, this spice has promise
tumor growth. Turmeric and curcumin are also able to for the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease (15,16).
suppress the activity of several common mutagens and
carcinogens. The anticarcinogenic effects of turmeric Photo-protector activity
and curcumin have been related to direct antioxidant and This action is due to its antioxidant activity. A large part
free-radical scavenging effects, as well as their ability to of the lipids of the surface of the skin is unsaturated.
indirectly increase glutathione levels, thereby aiding in Therefore, they are easily attacked by free radicals. The
hepatic detoxification of mutagens and carcinogens, and ultraviolet rays of the sun penetrate the skin and accelerate
inhibiting nitrosamine formation. Curcumin has also the damage caused by these radicals. Prolonged exposure

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Nasri H et al.

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Alperi J, Bereiter-Hahn J, Kaufmann R, et al.
Ethical considerations Curcumin in combination with visible light inhibits
Ethical issues (including plagiarism, misconduct, tumor growth in a xenograft tumor model. Int J
data fabrication, falsification, double publication or Cancer 2009;124:1422-8.  
submission, redundancy) have been completely observed
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by the authors.
Effect of dietary curcumin and dibenzoylmethane on
formation of 7,12-dimethylbenz a anthracene-induced
Funding/Support
mammary tumors and lymphomas/leukemias in
None.
Sencar mice. Carcinogenesis 1998;19:1697-700.  
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