Curcuma longa Linn. A Phytochemical and Phytopharmacological Review

Curcuma longa commonly known as turmeric is a well-known indigenous herbal medicine traditionally used as a spice in Indian food. Turmeric is used in India for thousands of years as a major part of Ayurvedic medicine. It was first used as a dye and then later for its possible medicinal properties. Turmeric is traditionally used as a spice and colori in foods dueing to curcuminoids curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bis-demethoxycurcumin as important chemical constituents. Curcuma longa sshows wide range of biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, antiseptic, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective and digestive activities. This Review expresses the devel lopment of Curcuma long from a traditional spice to a modern application in the present period.