Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
CURCUMA LONGA
Botanical Name —
Curcuma longa
L.
Synonyms —
C. domestica
Val., l.,
Stissera curcuma
Raeusch.,
Amomum curcuma
Jacq.
Family —
Zingiberaceae
Common Name —
Tu m e r ic
African Names —
Shambala: kitambwe: Swahili; mandano, manjano, kilunga kuku
Description —
Tumeric consists of the rhizomes of
Curcuma longa.
They occur as primary and
secondary rhizomes. The primary rhizomes are ovate or pear shaped, while the secondary rhizomes
or “fingers” are more cylindrical and lateral. Tumeric has an inner yellowish-brown color, with a
characteristic odor and slightly bitter taste.
279
Ethnomedicinal Uses —
The plant is employed in West Africa as an anthelmintic and as an
ointment for skin diseases. It is used as an anti-inflammatory agent and applied as an eyewash for
conjunctivitis. In West Africa, the powdered rhizome is mixed with flour into a paste applied to the
head for the relief of headache.
37
It is also applied as anointment on the body of smallpox patients,
and the patients are made to stay out in the sun. The rhizome and the juice are used in Mauritius as
an emmenagogue.
Constituents —
The plant contains about 5% diaryl heptanoids called curcuminoids. The prin-
cipal ones are curcumin (diferuloylmethane), monodes-methoxycurcumin, and dihydrocurcumin.
357
The volatile oil contains sesquiterpene ketones borneol, α-phellandrene, and zingiberine.
358
Pharmacological Studies —
Curcumin has anti-inflammatory activity that was found compara-
ble in potency to that of phenylbutazone.
359
It inhibits carrageenan-induced inflammation in rats and
blocks arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism via both the COX and the 5-lipooxygenase pathways.
360-362
The crude drug has antimicrobial, antiprotozoal, and anti-infertility properties.
50
Srivasta has used
14
C-labeled AA to establish that curcuma extract inhibited thromboxane B
2
(TxB
2
) production. He showed that less TxB
2
was produced in blood samples treated with curcuma
extract when they were allowed to clot. It was also observed that the extract inhibited the incor-
poration of [
14
C] AA into platelet phospholipids and deacylation of AA-labeled phospholipids on
stimulation with calcium ionosphere A23187.
363
Dixit et al. showed that the extract caused a signifi-
cant reduction in the ratio of total cholesterol/phospholipid and elevated the HDL-cholesterol/total
cholesterol ratio
364
in triton-induced hyperlipidemic rats.
The effects of turmeric in liposomal and lipid peroxidation and peroxide-induced DNA damage
have been investigated.
365
Curcumin and the aqueous extract of curcuma were found to be an effec-
tive antioxidant. Curcumin showed activity comparable to that of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA).
