Curcuma longa: A review of therapeutic effects in traditional and modern medical references

Abstract

Turmeric with scientific name of Curcuma longa is a perennial and herbaceous plant from family Zingiberaceae that grows in East Asia, such as China, and India. Ample evidence from previous studies indicates that C. longa is effective on many diseases including diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer. It also has hepatoprotective, gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system protective effects, and may stimulate immune system. Because C. longa contains antioxidant compounds such as curcumin, zingibran, alpha and beta-Turmerin, arabinose, fructose, glucose, starch and desmetoxicurcumin. The therapeutic effects that have already been confirmed in with animal and human studies can be attributed to these compounds. Therefore, the effective compounds of C. longa on the above diseases should be investigated in clinical trials. This may help to produce effective and strong drugs to treat these diseases. This article was aimed to summarize and present the therapeutic effects of Curcuma longa in traditional and modern medical references.