Active Ingredient Turmeric (curcuma Longa Linn.) And Curcumin

a plant genus of the family zingiberaceae that contains curcumin and curcuminoids.

Source:

medlineplus herbs and supplements: turmeric (curcuma longa linn.) and curcumin

Medical Condition	Uses based on scientific evidence	Grade*
cholelithiasis	it has been said that there are fewer people with gallstones in india, which is sometimes credited to turmeric in the diet. early studies report that curcumin, a chemical in turmeric, may decrease the occurrence of gallstones. however, reliable human studies are lacking in this area. the use of turmeric may be inadvisable in patients with active gallstones.	c
gastrojejunal ulcer	turmeric has been used historically to treat stomach and duodenal ulcers. however, at high doses or with prolonged use, turmeric may actually further irritate or upset the stomach. currently, there is not enough human evidence to make a firm recommendation.	c
heartburn	turmeric has been traditionally used to treat stomach problems (such as indigestion from a fatty meal). there is preliminary evidence that turmeric may offer some relief from these stomach problems. however, at high doses or with prolonged use, turmeric may actually irritate or upset the stomach. reliable human research is necessary before a recommendation can be made.	c
human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) disease	several laboratory studies suggest that curcumin, a component of turmeric, may have activity against hiv. however, reliable human studies are lacking in this area.	c
irritable bowel syndrome	irritable bowel syndrome (ibs) is a common functional disorder for which there are limited reliable medical treatments. one study investigated the effects of curcuma xanthorriza on ibs and found that treatment did not show any therapeutic benefit over placebo. more studies are needed to verify these findings.	c
leukoplakia of oral mucosa including tongue	results from lab and animal studies suggest turmeric may have anticancer effects. large, well-designed human studies are needed before a recommendation can be made.	c
mechanical complication of other specified prosthetic device implant and graft	laboratory and animal studies show anti-inflammatory activity of turmeric and its constituent curcumin. reliable human research is lacking.	c
neoplasms	several early animal and laboratory studies report anti-cancer (colon, skin, breast) properties of curcumin. many mechanisms have been considered, including antioxidant activity, anti-angiogenesis (prevention of new blood vessel growth), and direct effects on cancer cells. currently it remains unclear if turmeric or curcumin has a role in preventing or treating human cancers. there are several ongoing studies in this area.	c
osteoarthrosis unspecified whether generalized or localized	turmeric has been used historically to treat rheumatic conditions. laboratory and animal studies show anti-inflammatory activity of turmeric and its constituent curcumin, which may be beneficial in people with osteoarthritis. reliable human research is lacking.	c
other disorders of liver	in traditional indian ayurvedic medicine, turmeric has been used to tone the liver. early research suggests that turmeric may have a protective effect on the liver, but more research is needed before any recommendations can be made.	c
other inflammations of eyelids	laboratory and animal studies show anti-inflammatory activity of turmeric and its constituent curcumin. a poorly designed human study suggests a possible benefit of curcumin in the treatment of uveitis. reliable human research is necessary before a firm conclusion can be drawn.	c
pure hypercholesterolemia	early studies suggest that turmeric may lower levels of low-density lipoprotein ("bad cholesterol") and total cholesterol in the blood. better human studies are needed before a recommendation can be made.	c
rheumatoid arthritis	turmeric has been used historically to treat rheumatic conditions and based on animal research may reduce inflammation. reliable human studies are necessary before a recommendation can be made in this area.	c
scabies	historically, turmeric has been used on the skin to treat chronic skin ulcers and scabies. it has also been used in combination with the leaves of the herb azadirachta indica adr or "neem." more research is necessary before a firm recommendation can be made.	c
unspecified persistent mental disorders due to conditions classified elsewhere	curcumin has been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and to reduce beta-amyloid and plaque burden in lab studies. however, there is currently not enough evidence to suggest the use of curcumin for cognitive performance.	c
unspecified viral infection	evidence suggests that turmeric may help treat viral infections. however, there is not enough human evidence in this area. well-designed trials are needed to determine if these claims are true.	c
venous embolism and thrombosis of unspecified deep vessels of lower extremity	early research suggests that turmeric may prevent the formation of blood clots. however, more research is needed before turmeric can be recommended for these conditions.	c

*Key to grades
A: Strong scientific evidence for this use;
B: Good scientific evidence for this use;
C: Unclear scientific evidence for this use;
D: Fair scientific evidence against this use;
F: Strong scientific evidence against this use.