It contains curcumin and curcuminoid well known for its anti-cancer
properties. The W.H.O. acknowledges it as a gastro-intestinal protective herb.
Luyang dilaw is a very good anti-inflammatory agent. Its melts gall bladder
stones; treats fatty liver; lowers bad cholesterol and triglycerides. English Name: Turmeric; Common Name: Luyang Dilaw, Kalawag,
Dilaw, Lampuyang, lawag; Scientific Name: Curcuma longa; Family Name:
Zingiberidaceae
Luyang dilaw is a
perennial plant with roots or tubers oblong, palmate, and deep orange inside;
root-leaves about 2 feet long, lanceolate, long, petioled, tapering at each
end, smooth, of a uniform green; petioles sheathing spike, erect, central,
oblong, green; flowers dull yellow, three or five together surrounded by
bracteolae. It is propagated by cuttings from the root, which when dry is in
curved cylindrical or oblong tubers 2 or 3 inches in length, and an inch in
diameter, pointed or tapering at the end. It is grown commercially in India and has been
since before the written record. Unlike ginger, tumeric rhizome is brightly
coloured, yellow as a matter of fact. The colour it produces is deep orange as
compared to the canary yellow produced by saffron. It grew in India and was
another import item for the Israelites. It was used by all the ancient cultures
as both a food colouring and as a medicine. Part Used: RHIZOME (root)
Active Constituents.
Turmeric constituents include the three curcuminoids: Curcumin (diferuloylmethane;
the primary constituent and the one responsible for its vibrant yellow colour),
demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin, as well as volatile oils (tumerone,
atlantone and zingiberone), sugars, proteins and resins.
Traditional Use: Many
South Asian countries use it as an antiseptic for cuts, burns, and bruises, and
as an antibacterial agent. In Pakistan, it is used as an anti-inflammatory
agent, and as a remedy for gastrointestinal discomfort associated with
irritable bowel syndrome and other digestive disorders. In Pakistan and
Afghanistan, turmeric is used to cleanse wounds and stimulate their recovery by
applying it on a piece of burnt cloth that is placed over a wound. Indians use
turmeric, in addition to its Ayurvedic applications, to purify blood and remedy
skin conditions. Turmeric paste is used by women in some parts of India to
remove superfluous hair. Turmeric paste is applied to the skin of the bride and
groom before marriage in some parts of India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, where
it is believed to make the skin glow and keep harmful bacteria away from the
body. Turmeric is currently used in the formulation of several sunscreens.
Several multinational companies are involved in making face creams based on
turmeric. Another traditional use of
turmeric is as a food colorant and dye for cloth – in both cases a cheaper
alternative to saffron. It was and is used in religious ceremonies and
offerings – often representing life, purity, and prosperity.
Antioxidant. Studies have shown that C. longa peel wastes
possess antioxidant properties which could probably work by counteracting and
or quenching of reactive oxygen species. Alzheimer's
Disease.Turmeric possesses multiple medicinal uses including treatment for
AD. Curcuminoids, a mixture of curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and
bisdemethoxycurcumin, are vital constituents of turmeric. It is generally
believed that curcumin is the most important constituent of the curcuminoid
mixture that contributes to the pharmacological profile of parent curcuminoid
mixture or turmeric. A careful literature study reveals that the other two
constituents of the curcuminoid mixture also contribute significantly to the
effectiveness of curcuminoids in AD Turmeric possesses multiple medicinal uses
including treatment for AD. Curcuminoids, a mixture of curcumin,
demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin, are vital constituents of
turmeric. It is generally believed that curcumin is the most important
constituent of the curcuminoid mixture that contributes to the pharmacological
profile of parent curcuminoid mixture or turmeric. A careful literature study
reveals that the other two constituents of the curcuminoid mixture also
contribute significantly to the effectiveness of curcuminoids in AD.
Colon Cancer. A
recent study detailed the modulating effect of curcumin on apoptosis in tumors.
Curcumin was administered to the test animals at 0.2% and 0.6% level in the
diet late in the premalignant stage, during the promotion/progression stage of
colon carcinogenesis in male rats. 0.2% curcumin significantly inhibited colon
tumorigenesis in treated rats as compared to untreated controls. The inhibition
of adenocarcinomas of the colon was found to be dose-dependent. The authors
confirmed that the chemopreventive activity of curcumin is observed when it is
administered prior to, during and after carcinogen treatment as well as late in
the premalignant stage of colon carcinogenesis.
Diabetes. Curcumin was given in different doses to SD rats after 4
weeks of diabetic GI complication induction. At the end of 4 weeks, significant
GI dysfunction characterized by weight loss, delayed gastric emptying and
intestinal transit associated with reduction in antioxidant enzyme levels and
increased lipid peroxidation was observed.
Weight loss. Curcumin
was given in different doses to SD rats after 4 weeks of diabetic GI
complication induction. At the end of 4 weeks, significant GI dysfunction
characterized by weight loss, delayed gastric emptying and intestinal transit
associated with reduction in antioxidant enzyme levels and increased lipid
peroxidation was observed.
Arthritis. Due to its anti-inflammatory
and pain-relieving properties, it is not surprising that Turmeric is now being
used as an effective natural remedy for Arthritis pain. Therefore, taking 500mg
to 1000mg Turmeric capsules three times per day may provide significant relief
from osteoarthritis pain.
Asthma. Since
turmeric is an anti-inflammatory, it can help reduce the inflammation
associated with asthma. Add 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder to a glass of warm
milk, and drink this mixture as an effective asthma home remedy.
Cardiovascular
disease. Age-related
cardiovascular decline in postmenopausal women is characterized, in part, by
increased left ventricular afterload, an indication of vascular dysfunction and
hypertension. An 8 week pilot study randomized 45 postmenopausal women to one
of four interventions: placebo, 150mg curcumin, exercise training plus placebo
or exercise training plus curcumin.
Gastrointestinal
and Respiratory disorder. The crude extract of turmeric (Cl.Cr), relaxed
the spontaneous and K+ (80 mM)-induced contractions in isolated rabbit jejunum
as well as shifted the CaCl2 concentration-response curves. In rabbit tracheal
preparation, Cl.Cr inhibited carbachol and K+-induced contractions. Activity
directed fractionation revealed that the vasodilator and vasoconstrictor
activities are widely distributed in the plant with no clear separation into
the polar or non-polar fractions. When used for comparison, both curcumin and
verapamil caused similar inhibitory effects in all smooth muscle preparations with
relatively more effect against K+-induced contractions and that both were
devoid of any vasoconstrictor effect and curcumin had no effect on atria. These
data suggest that the inhibitory effects of Cl.Cr are mediated primarily
through calcium channel blockade, though additional mechanism cannot be ruled
out and this study forms the basis for the traditional use of turmeric in
hyperactive states of the gut and airways. Furthermore, curcumin, the main active principle,
does not share all effects of turmeric.
Precautions: Turmeric should be limited in women trying to
get pregnant and should be avoided entirely hen pregnant. It should also be
avoided by people with congestive heart failure. Toxicity. It has very low toxicity, too. As the global 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.
Testicular Damage. The
study demonstrated protective effects of low concentrations (1–50 μM) of
curcumin on mouse sperm motility in vitro and on DEHP-induced damage of
seminiferous tubules in testes and its ability to diminish the decrease in
sperm motility in vivo. In contrast, curcumin used in high concentration (100
μM) decreased sperm motility and viability in vitro. The effects of curcumin
were dependent on its concentration. In male germ cells in vivo the protective
effect was seen despite the low bioavailability of curcumin. In contrast, high,
unattainable in the organism, concentration of curcumin had a cytotoxic effect
on male reproductive cells in vitro. Curcumin also had a protective effect
against the harmful impact of DEHP on the male reproductive system.