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Multitargeting by turmeric, the golden spice: From kitchen to clinic.
- Source :
-
Molecular nutrition & food research [Mol Nutr Food Res] 2013 Sep; Vol. 57 (9), pp. 1510-28. Date of Electronic Publication: 2012 Aug 13. - Publication Year :
- 2013
-
Abstract
- Although much has been published about curcumin, which is obtained from turmeric, comparatively little is known about turmeric itself. Turmeric, a golden spice obtained from the rhizome of the plant Curcuma longa, has been used to give color and taste to food preparations since ancient times. Traditionally, this spice has been used in Ayurveda and folk medicine for the treatment of such ailments as gynecological problems, gastric problems, hepatic disorders, infectious diseases, and blood disorders. Modern science has provided the scientific basis for the use of turmeric against such disorders. Various chemical constituents have been isolated from this spice, including polyphenols, sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, triterpenoids, sterols, and alkaloids. Curcumin, which constitutes 2-5% of turmeric, is perhaps the most-studied component. Although some of the activities of turmeric can be mimicked by curcumin, other activities are curcumin-independent. Cell-based studies have demonstrated the potential of turmeric as an antimicrobial, insecticidal, larvicidal, antimutagenic, radioprotector, and anticancer agent. Numerous animal studies have shown the potential of this spice against proinflammatory diseases, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, depression, diabetes, obesity, and atherosclerosis. At the molecular level, this spice has been shown to modulate numerous cell-signaling pathways. In clinical trials, turmeric has shown efficacy against numerous human ailments including lupus nephritis, cancer, diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, acne, and fibrosis. Thus, a spice originally common in the kitchen is now exhibiting activities in the clinic. In this review, we discuss the chemical constituents of turmeric, its biological activities, its molecular targets, and its potential in the clinic.<br /> (© 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)
- Subjects :
- Animals
Anti-Inflammatory Agents pharmacology
Antidepressive Agents pharmacology
Antineoplastic Agents pharmacology
Diabetes Mellitus drug therapy
Disease Models, Animal
Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
Humans
Hypoglycemic Agents pharmacology
Medicine, Traditional
Neoplasms drug therapy
Neurodegenerative Diseases drug therapy
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Wound Healing drug effects
Curcuma chemistry
Curcumin pharmacology
Spices analysis
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1613-4133
- Volume :
- 57
- Issue :
- 9
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Molecular nutrition & food research
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 22887802
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.201100741