TURMERIC

                                        

                                         TURMERIC

                                  (Curcuma longa Linn.)

Synonyms : curcuma.

Turmeric is prepared rhizome of curcuma longa Linn. (Zingiberaceae)

      It is perennial herb of ginger family, having thick rhizome; native to Southern Asia; extensively cultivated in India, China, Indonesia and other tropical countries.

    Rhizome is boiled, cleaned, sun dried (prepared turmeric) and polished. India is the major supplier to the world market.

Chemical constituents :

              Turmeric contains 3-7% orange-yellow colored volatile oil which is mainly composed of turmerone (60%), α, β-atlantone and zingiberene (25%) with minor amounts of 1,8 cineole, α-phellandeene, dsabinene and borneol. Others than above it contains yellow coloring matter including 0.3-5.4% curcumin, sugars (glucose 28%; fructose 12% and arabinnose 1%), fixed oil, proteins, minerals (high in potassium) vitamin C and resin.

                Turmeric water and alcoholic soluble fraction have been reported to have antioxidant activities (which is due to curcumin).

Health Food :

                Turmeric is the major ingredient of curry powder (both for flavor and colour) to stimulate appetite. It is used as an antioxidant in capsules, tablets and flavoring tea. It is recommended as food supplement to treat numerous conditions like flatulence, liver problems, menstrual difficulties, haemorrhage, chest pain, colic, skin diseases, constipation and also in religious rituals.

              Turmeric and turmeric oleoresin are used extensively both for color and flavourt in many food products including baked goods, meat and meat products. It is a major ingredient of curry powder and also used in prepared mustard.

                Pharmacy used turmeric rhizomes as a constituent of phytopharmaceuticals with the following indications as a choleretic and cholagoghe for functional dyspepsia attributed to hepatic origin and as an appetite stimulant. It is also used for its broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. It has also been employed to stimulate biliary secretion and to treat gallstones.