Turmeric
This is grounded and dried rhizome if the plant Curcuma longa L. This plant is 1 m height, and has main ovate rhizome with dimensions of about 3 cm wide and 4 cm long. The rhizome has yellow to yellow brown color on the outer part and orange yellow to orange in the internal part. It is a bit bitter and has typical aroma. It grows in Asia and mainly is cultivated in Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia and Thailand. Due to its yellow color it was believed that it replicates sunlight and thus must have protective properties. In Hindu rituals it was used for many years, even for cloth dyeing with believe that the ones that wears the clothes will be protected from infection or fever (Nair, 2013). According to WHO when using powdered plant it is enough to use 1, 5 to 3 g per day.
In traditional medicine it was used for many conditions as treating peptic ulcers, lowering of the pain and inflammation in cases of rheumatoid arthritis, diarrhea, epilepsy, pain, skin diseases, etc. The principal recommended clinical use of turmeric is as always a bit narrower than traditional one, and is for the treatment of acid, flatulent or atonic dyspepsia.
Mayor chemical constituents are monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, including zingiberene, curcumene, α-and β- turmerone. The color comes from its curcuminoids. Evaluating the cytotoxicity, antioxidant effect and anti-inflammatory effect of curcumin I, II and curucumin III from Curcuma longa, it was established that these compounds have shown activity against leukemia, colon, melanoma, renal, CNS, and breast cancer cells. They have shown inhibition of different oxidative processes (Ramsewak et al., 2000). Curcumin can reduce the development of several forms of cancer in lab animals and it can also shrink animal tumor. In the early stages of evaluation of its cancer preventive role in humans it is said to be a problem its absorbance in the intestine (Akram et al., 2010). In vitro studies have also shown that cucumin was effective against bacteria Helicobacter pillory, known to be carcinogenic for gastric cancers (Hedge et al., 2013).
The clinical effect of turmeric trough scientific investigation has implicated that it can act anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, chemopreventive, antimutagenic, anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, hepetoprotective, antithrombotic, and other effects (Nair, 2013). In clinical studies where its anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated, it was noted that curcumin can act as anti-inflammatory drug, and given in patients with rheumatoid arthritis the morning stiffness was improved, the walking time and joint swelling. In other studies on subjects with peptic ulcers, when they received it as oral drug they noticed that the drug promoted ulcer healing effect and decrease in abdominal pain (WHO, 1999). Turmeric has been found to reduce post-surgical inflammation and it also helps the prevention of atherosclerosis by reducing formation of bloods clumps. The anti-inflammatory property of turmeric is a due to three properties. First type of action is lowering the production of inflammation inducing histamine. Than second action is increasing and prolonging of cortisol, the natural antiinflammatory adrenal hormone. And the third action is improvement of circulation, thus flushes toxins out of the small joints where usually the cellular waste and inflammatory compounds are trapped (Akram et al., 2010). Turmeric has been even shown to have therapeutic properties against Alzheimer disease. Its detoxifying effect has even been used to alleviate the adverse effect of hallucination as a result of consumption of hashish or other psychotropic drugs (Nair, 2013). Also curcumin also can bind heavy metals as cadmium and lead, and in that way it reduce se their toxicity. This is how turmeric acts protective on the brain (Akram et al., 2010).
Further Readings
The Onion Book of Known Knowledge: A Definitive Encyclopaedia Of Existing Information
Ginseng, the Divine Root: The Curious History of the Plant That Captivated the World
Chinese and Related North American Herbs: Phytopharmacology and Therapeutic Values
Products
Eden Pond Turmeric Curcumin, Nature's Way Ginger Root, Starwest Botanicals Organic Hibiscus Flowers Cut,
Solaray Organic Sage, Organic Schisandra Berry Whole, Healthworks Raw Certified Organic Cacao Powder,
Echinacea Purpurea Herb, Cut & Sifted Frontier Natural Products,
Nature Made Ginseng (Chinese Red), Enzymatic Therapy Saventaro Cat's Claw, Frontier Fennel Seed Whole,
New Chapter Lemon Balm Force Capsules,