Ethnopharmacological review of turmeric for anticancer activity

Abstract

These reviews suggest that in the Indian subcontinent, turmeric (Curcuma longa Linn) is widely grown and consumed as a spice. Traditional medicine has used turmeric to treat a variety of ailments, such as diabetes, liver disease, and cough. Many studies have been conducted over the past decades to determine the pharmacological effects of turmeric and its derivatives. The main chemical component of turmeric, curcumin, has been shown to have pharmacological properties including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-mutagenic, antidiabetic, and antibacterial properties., protect liver, expectorant and anti-cancer. Turmeric, also known as Curcuma longa L. (root and rhizome), is a plant of high medicinal and commercial value, mainly used as a spice and food supplement around the world. The three curcuminoids - curcumin (diferuloylmethane, the main ingredient that gives turmeric its yellow color), demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin - are the main active ingredients of turmeric. Volatile oils (zingiberene, atlantone, tomerol, etc.) also have pharmacological effects. In addition, turmeric contains proteins, resins and carbohydrates. Turmeric is a powerful antioxidant and has significant anti-inflammatory properties. Turmeric's anti-inflammatory properties may be directly related to its anti-cancer properties. In this review, the anticancer properties of Turmeric have been reviewed.