Products
Turmeric is commercially available as a spice. Along with other parts of the plant, it is an important ingredient of curry powder. Products available in pharmacies and drugstores include turmeric powder, liquid preparations, capsules and tablets. The powder contains the active ingredient curcumin (see below). The orange-yellow dye is also used as an additive for food (E 100) and as a cosmetic colorant (CI 75300).
Stem plant
Turmeric L. ( Val.) is a member of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae) and is native to India and Southeast Asia.
Medicinal drug
The curcumarhizoma (Curcumae longae rhizoma) is used as a medicinal drug. It is also referred to as curcuma rhizome and, not quite botanically correct, as curcuma root. Turmeric has long been used in traditional Indian and Chinese medicine.
Ingredients
The relevant constituents are considered to be the curcuminoids, which include curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin, and cyclocurcumin (curcumin I to IV). The mixture is also referred to as curcumin. Curcumin I or diferuloylmethane (C21H20O6, Mr = 368.4 g/mol) gives the spice its yellow color and is thought to be responsible for its effects. It is lipophilic and therefore insoluble in water, but dissolves well in organic solvents such as ethanol. It is present mainly in the enol form (Figure). Other constituents include essential oil and reserve substances such as starch.
Effects
Turmeric and curcumin are believed to have choleretic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial (bacteria, parasites, fungi, viruses), analgesic, antiproliferative, antitumor, and immunomodulatory properties, among others. Criticism has been leveled at curcumin’s low bioavailability, which has been attributed to its poor water solubility, poor absorption, metabolism, and rapid elimination. With formulation and in combination with absorption-enhancing substances, bioavailability can be easily increased. The instability of the substance is also viewed negatively (e.g., Nelson et al., 2017).
Indications for use
Turmeric has traditionally been used in Europe for digestive disorders (dyspepsia) and disorders of liver and biliary function. Because of their diverse effects, turmeric and curcumin have the potential to be used for numerous indications. They have been studied for the treatment of osteoarthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, allergic diseases, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis, cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, among others. However, questions remain.
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity
- Biliary obstruction
- Gallstones
We do not have a complete list of precautions.
Interactions
Drug-drug interactions may be possible with antithrombotics, such as acetylsalicylic acid and clopidogrel, because curcumin inhibits platelet aggregation.
Adverse effects
Turmeric and curcumin are considered well tolerated in the literature. Possible adverse effects include diarrhea.
