TURMERIC
(Curcuma longa L.)
Scientific name : Curcuma longa L.
Synonym : Curcuma domestica Val.
Common name : Turmeric
Common names according to respective countries:
Arabic = Hurd, Kurkum, Timmer (Egypt), Uqdah Safra
Chinese = Yü Chiu, Yu Chiu, Yu Jin (Yu Chin)
English = Common Turmeric, Curcuma, Turmeric, Yellow Ginger
French = Souchet Des Indes, Terre-Mérite
German = Gelbwurz, Gilber Ingwer, Gilbwurzel, Indischer Safran, Kurkuma
Hindi = Haldi, Haldii (Haldi)
Japanese = Taamerikku, Tamerikku, Ukon
Korean = Kang-Hwang, Keol-Ku-Ma, Keolkuma, Kolkuma, Sim-Hwang
Malay = Kunyit, Kunyit Basah, Kunyit Betul
Spanish = Azafrán De La India, Azafrán Arabe, Cúrcuma, Turmérico
Tamil = Manjal
Thai = Kamin, Kha Mîn, Kha Mîn Chan (Central Thailand), Kha Mîn Hua (Chiang Mai)
Family : Zingiberaceae
Introduction
Curcuma longa
is locally known by the Malaysian as kunyit. Turmeric is one of the oldest and
most important and valuable herb spice to humankind. It has been used
traditionally since 600 B.C., as food flavouring, as a dye, in folk medicine
and for religious and ritual ceremonies. The herb has its origins in Southeast
Asia and also can be found growing in Tropical Africa and India. The plant is
currently cultivated commercially in China, India, Indochina and Indonesia. In
Malaysia, Turmeric is only grown for the domestic market and is commonly
cultivated in home garden of every home for daily use.
Turmeric grows in the tropics where the climate is warm and moist, with an annual rainfall of 1000 to 2000 m. The plant grows best at an elevation of 450 to 900 m, but it can also be cultivated up to an elevation of 2000 m. The herb prefers a well-drained loamy soil, with a pH of 5 to 7.5 and also with high organic matter under sunlight. Turmeric is propagated asexually through rhizome cuttings of which at least one bud or protruding shoot is present. After 9 to 10 months of planting, the rhizomes can be harvested.
Turmeric grows in the tropics where the climate is warm and moist, with an annual rainfall of 1000 to 2000 m. The plant grows best at an elevation of 450 to 900 m, but it can also be cultivated up to an elevation of 2000 m. The herb prefers a well-drained loamy soil, with a pH of 5 to 7.5 and also with high organic matter under sunlight. Turmeric is propagated asexually through rhizome cuttings of which at least one bud or protruding shoot is present. After 9 to 10 months of planting, the rhizomes can be harvested.
Morphological Description
Turmeric is a perennial herb which grows to a
height of about 1 m with a short pseudostem. The pseudostem is formed by the
long petioles of leaf sheaths. The leaves are aromatic, light green and
alternately arranged. The leaves are glabrous, elliptical-lanceolate in shape
with an entire margin. The leaf apice is acuminate and the base sheathing. The
length of the leaf is about 30 cm long and 10 cm board.
The inflorescences are borne apical to the leaf shoot. The inflorescence is cone or oblong in shape, 10-15 cm long and 5-7 cm wide. Inflorescences are made up of light-green to whitish bracts which are layered arranged. Only one white with yellowish centred flower will blossom at every bract’s axil. At the base of the pseudostem is a swollen fleshy white tuber which grows vertically downwards. The rhizomes arise from the tuber and branch out at right angle as secondary rhizomes and later produce more branches to form a dense clump. The rhizomes are aromatic, cylindrical and fleshy with orange-brown skin and dark-yellow to bright orange pulp.
Anatomical
Description
The general anatomy of the members of the
Zingiberaceae Family are the plants are with silica bodies. Accumulated starch
other than exclusively ‘pteridophyte type’. The epidermis of the leaf contain
silica bodies (spherical). The mesophyll with spherical etherial oil cells
which contain calcium oxalate crystals. The mesophyll crystals druses, or
solitary-prismatic (no raphides). Minor leaf veins are without vessels. The
stem anatomy are without secondary thickening and and without vessels (mostly).
The root xylem have vessels. Vessel end-walls scalariform (nearly always), or
scalariform and simple (occasionally).
Taxonomy
The table below shows the scientific
classification of C. longa or turmeric.
Scientific Classification
|
Description
|
|
Kingdom
|
Plantae
|
Plants
|
Subkingdom
|
Tracheobionta
|
Vascular plants
|
Superdivision
|
Spermatophyta
|
Seed plants
|
Division
|
Magnoliophyta
|
Flowering plants
|
Class
|
Liliopsida
|
Monocotyledons
|
Subclass
|
Zingiberidae
|
|
Order
|
Zingiberales
|
|
Family
|
Zingiberaceae
|
Ginger family
|
Genus
|
Curcuma
|
curcuma
|
Species
|
Curcuma longa
|
common turmeric
|
Chemical
Constituents of Turmeric
The rhizome of turmeric is edible. It yields
about 2 to 7% of orange-red essential oil. The main constituents of the rhizome
are turmeron, zingiberene, arturmerone and also contain oleoresin. Oleoresin
contains curcumin which gives turmeric its yellow-orange colour and have
antioxidant properties. The essential oil in the rhizome gives it aroma and
flavour. The table below summarizes the nutritional value per 100 g of rhizome.
Turmeric (rhizome)
|
|
Nutritional value per 100 g
|
|
. Energy 335.0
kcal 1340 kJ ……… ……
|
|
Water
|
14.2 g
|
Protein
|
2.3 g
|
Fat
|
5.0 g
|
Carbohydrate
|
70.1
|
Fibre
|
3.2 g
|
Ash
|
5.2 g
|
Calcium
|
146.0 mg
|
Phosphorus
|
284 mg
|
Iron
|
18.6 mg
|
Sodium
|
32 mg
|
Carotenes
|
67.0 μg
|
Retinol equivalents
|
11.0 μg
|
Vitamin B1
|
0.03 mg
|
Vitamin B2
|
0.12 mg
|
Niacin
|
2.3 mg
|
ETHNOBOTANICAL
ASPECTS
Culinary uses
Turmeric is well known among the Malaysian
community and it has been used since hundreds of years ago for many purposes.
The Malay and Indians use the rhizome as a condiment in cooking to add
fragrance, falvour and a yellow colour in their dishes. The spice ingredient
for curry contain approximately 20-30% of turmeric. The young rhizomes of
turmeric are sliced and eaten fresh as ulam
dipped in sambal belacan.
Sometimes the young shoots and flowers are also used as ulam. The broad aromatic
leaves of turmeric are sold in bundles in the local markets. These leaves are
used for many purpose such as in making rendang
and also in wrapping fish before steaming or baking. The leaves are used in
India to prepare a special medicinal herbal bread.
The rhizome is used as a colouring agent in the food industry for processed food, sauces and confectionery. Turmeric is also used to protect food products from sunlight.
The rhizome is used as a colouring agent in the food industry for processed food, sauces and confectionery. Turmeric is also used to protect food products from sunlight.
Uses in traditional medicine
Turmeric being as one of the members of the
Zingiberaceae family, has been frequently used in tradistional madicine.
Turmeric is one of the several kinds pf plants which are blended to make Jamu, which is a
traditional Javanese herbal medicine from Indonesia. Jamu which contain
turmeric as one of it ingredients, are use for example by women in confinement
after birth. In traditional medicine, the rhizome is used in treating a number
of aliments. The rhizome boiled with milk and sugar is used to relieve colds.
The rhizome boiled with garlic and onion is used for treating flatulence in
children and diarrhoea and dysentery. A poultice of the rhizome is applied to
the breast of lacting mothers to stimulate milk flow. The rhizome can also be
used to aid digestion, treat infections of urino-genital system, stomach
problems and pains in the chest and back. Turmeric prepared with oil is used to
smoothen rough skin, and with lime, it is used to treat bruises, sprains and
wonds. The underground stem is used to treat irregular mensturation. It is also
taken to stimulate the production of red blood cells, dissolve blood clots,
arrest bleeding and treat jaundice.
Traditionally the rhizome is also used to
treat cancer, inflammation, kidney stones, worms, malaria, scabies, rheumatism,
and also it stimulates bile secration, lowers cholestrol levels, relieves
postpartum pain, removes gallstones and treat angina pectoris (chest pains). To
date there is no record of adverse effect of turmeric on health.
Medicinal uses and pharmacology of
turmeric
Turmeric is reported to possess
anticarcinogenic, anticoagulant, antihepatotoxic, antimutagenic/ DNA protecting
and antioxidative. This plant has been found to contain volatile oil and
curcumoids. These compounds are believed to be the active ingredients of
turmeric. Recent research on turmeric has indicated that the rhizome is
pharmaceutically active against a number of illnesses such as cancer,
dermatitis, AIDS, inflammation, high cholestrol levels and dyspeptic
conditions. A recent study involving mice has shown that turmeric slows the
spread of breast cancer into the lungs and other body parts. Turmeric also
enhances the effect of taxol in reducing metastasis of breast cancer. Below are
diseases which turmeric may be helpful based on research that has been done.
1) Digestive Disorders
The German Commission E which is an
authoritative body that determined which herbs could be safely prescribed in
that country and for which purpose(s) approved turmeric for a variety of
digestive disorders such as stomach upset, gas and abdo. Curcumin, for example,
is one of the active ingredients in turmeric, induces the flow of bile which
helps break down fats.
2) Osteoarthritis
Turmeric may help relieve the symptoms of osteoarthritis because of its ability to reduce inflammation. A study of people using an Ayurvedic formula of herbs and minerals containing turmeric, Withinia somnifera (winter cherry), Boswellia serrata (Boswellia), and zinc significantly reduced pain and disability, but it is difficult to know how much of this success is from turmeric alone, one of the other individual herbs, or the combination of herbs working in tandem.
Turmeric may help relieve the symptoms of osteoarthritis because of its ability to reduce inflammation. A study of people using an Ayurvedic formula of herbs and minerals containing turmeric, Withinia somnifera (winter cherry), Boswellia serrata (Boswellia), and zinc significantly reduced pain and disability, but it is difficult to know how much of this success is from turmeric alone, one of the other individual herbs, or the combination of herbs working in tandem.
3) Atherosclerosis
Turmeric may prove helpful in preventing the build up of atherosclerosis which is blockage of arteries that can eventually cause a heart attack or stroke. In animal studies an extract of turmeric lowered cholesterol levels and inhibited the oxidation of LDL ("bad") cholesterol. Oxidized LDL deposits in the walls of blood vessels and contributes to the formation of atherosclerotic plaque.
Turmeric may prove helpful in preventing the build up of atherosclerosis which is blockage of arteries that can eventually cause a heart attack or stroke. In animal studies an extract of turmeric lowered cholesterol levels and inhibited the oxidation of LDL ("bad") cholesterol. Oxidized LDL deposits in the walls of blood vessels and contributes to the formation of atherosclerotic plaque.
4) Cancer
Evidence from laboratory and animal studies suggests that curcumin has potential in the treatment of various forms of cancer, including prostate, breast, skin, and colon.
Evidence from laboratory and animal studies suggests that curcumin has potential in the treatment of various forms of cancer, including prostate, breast, skin, and colon.
5) Roundworms and Intestinal worms
Laboratory studies suggest that curcuminoids, may reduce the destructive activity of parasites or roundworms.
6) Liver Disease
Animal studies provide evidence that turmeric can protect the liver from a number of damaging substances such as paracetamol which is used commonly for headache and pain that can cause liver damage if taken in large quantities or in someone who drinks alcohol regularly. Turmeric helps to clear such toxins from the body and by protecting the liver from damage.
7) Bacterial Infection
Turmeric's volatile oil functions as an
external antibiotic which prevent bacterial infection in wounds.
8) Eye Disorder
One study of 32 people with uveitis
(inflammation of the uvea, the middle layer of the eye between the sclera
[white outer coat of the eye] and the retina [the back of the eye]) suggests
that curcumin may prove to be as effective as corticosteroids, the type of
medication generally prescribed for this eye disorder. The uvea contains many
of the blood vessels that nourish the eye. Inflammation of this area,
therefore, can affect the cornea, the retina, the sclera, and other important
parts of the eye. More research is needed to best understand whether curcumin
may help treat this eye inflammation.
Cosmetics
uses
The rhizome is used as a cosmetic by women.
The rhizome is made into a paste with an oil base and applied to smoothen the
skin and preserved a youthful complexion, which in Malay is referred to as awet
muda.
Turmeric is currently used in the formulation of some sunscreens. Colourless compounds which called isolate tetrahydrocurcuminoids (THC) can be extracted from turmeric. These compounds might have antioxidant and skin-lightening properties and might be used to treat skin inflammations, and thus making these compounds useful in cosmetics formulations.
Turmeric is currently used in the formulation of some sunscreens. Colourless compounds which called isolate tetrahydrocurcuminoids (THC) can be extracted from turmeric. These compounds might have antioxidant and skin-lightening properties and might be used to treat skin inflammations, and thus making these compounds useful in cosmetics formulations.
Other
uses
This herb is also used as an insecticide, fungicide and nematicide.
This herb is also used as an insecticide, fungicide and nematicide.
Commercial
production of Turmeric
Turmeric
has wide potential especially in herbal industry. Locally, turmeric is sold as
fresh and dried rhizome and also in the powdered form. These rhizomes are
mainly used for flavoring curries and used in ritual ceremonies. The commercial
use of turmeric in herbal remedies is becoming popular. Example of product from
turmeric are Jamu, turmeric lotion and oil and also can be made into face
cream. Most of the turmeric used locally is imported. Currently the major
producers of raw turmeric is Chaina, India and Indonesia.
At
global level, certain companies have captured and synthesized some of turmeric
important medicinal properties and compounds and are marketing their products
as dietary supplements and herbal remedies.
References
Bala
Jaganath, I. & Lean, T.N. 2000. Herbs:
the green pharmacy of Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur: Vinpress Sdn. Bhd.Ismail Saidin. 2000. Sayuran tradisional ulam dan penyedap rasa. Bangi: Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
Rukayah Aman. 2000. Ulam dan sayuran tempatan Semenanjung Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.
Samy, J., Sugumaran, M. & Lee, K.LW. 2005. Herbs of Malaysia: an introduction to the medicinal, culinary, aromatic and cosmetic use of herbs. Wong, L.W. (pnyt.). Shah Alam: Times Edition.
Wan Hassan, W.E. 2007. Healing Herbs of Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur: Federal Land Development Autrority (FELDA).
Wikipedia. 2009. Turmeric. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turmeric [19 January 2009]
University of Maryland Medical Center. 2008. Turmeric. http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/turmeric-000277.htm [20 January 2009]
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