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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Turmeric
| image = Koeh-199.jpg
| image_caption = '''Curcuma longa'''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Liliopsida]]
| subclassis = [[Zingiberidae]]
| ordo = [[Zingiberales]]
| familia = [[Zingiberaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Curcuma]]''
| species = '''''C. longa'''''
| binomial = ''Curcuma longa''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]]
}}

'''Turmeric''' (''[[Curcuma]] longa'') is a [[rhizomatous]] [[herbaceous]] [[perennial plant]] of the [[ginger]] family, [[Zingiberaceae]] which is native to [[tropical]] [[South Asia]]. It needs temperatures between 20 and 30 deg. C. and a considerable amount of annual rainfall to thrive. Plants are gathered annually for their rhizomes, and re-seeded from some of those rhizomes in the following season.

It is also often misspelled (or pronounced) as '''[[wikt:tumeric|tumeric]]'''. It sometimes also known as '''kunyit''' in some Asian countries<ref>Turmeric is known by different names in different languages. Some examples include:
*"Arishina" in [[Kannada]]
*"Halad" in [[Marathi]]
*"Haldi" in [[Hindi]], [[Urdu]] and [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]].
*"Haruut" in [[Somali]]
*"Holdi" or "Holood" in [[Bengali language|Bengali]].
*"আন্দি" (''Andi'') in [[Bishnupriya Manipuri Language|Bishnupriya Manipuri]]
*"மஞ்சள்" (''manjal'' "literally:Yellow") in [[Tamil language|Tamil]].
*"పసుపు" (''pasupu'') in [[Telugu language|Telugu]].
*"姜黄" (''jiang huang'') in [[Chinese language|Chinese]].
*"Nghệ" in [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]].
*"Lmeat" in [[Khmer language|Khmer]].
*''زردچوبه'' (Zardchubeh) in [[Persian language|Persian]].
*"‘Ōlena" in [[Hawaiian language|Hawaiian]]
*"Gelbwurz" (literally: Yellow Root) or "Curcuma" in [[German language|German]].
*"Kurkuma" or "Japonský šafrán" (Japanese Safron) in [[Czech language|Czech]].
*"Kunyit" in [[Malay]] and [[Indonesian]].
*"كركم" or "Kurkum" in [[Arabic]].
*"כורכום" or "Kurkum" in [[Hebrew]].
*"Palillo" in Spanish (South America).
*"മഞ്ഞള്‍" (''manjal'') in [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]].
</ref>.

Its [[rhizomes]] are boiled for several hours and then dried in hot ovens, after which they are ground into a deep orange-[[yellow]] powder commonly used as a [[spice]] in [[curries]] and other [[South Asian cuisine]], for dyeing, and to impart color to [[mustard]] [[condiment]]s. Its active ingredient is [[curcumin]] and it has an earthy, bitter, [[Black pepper|pepper]]y flavor and has a mustardy smell

[[Sangli]], a town in the southern part of the [[India]]n state of [[Maharashtra]], is the largest and most important trading centre for turmeric in [[Asia]] or perhaps in the entire world.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}

==Uses==
=== Food ===
[[Image:Turmeric-powder.jpg|left|thumb|100px|Turmeric powder is used extensively in Indian cuisine.]]


Turmeric has found application in canned [[beverages]], baked products, [[dairy]] products, [[ice cream]], [[yogurt]], yellow [[cake]]s, [[biscuit]]s, [[popcorn]]-color, sweets, cake icings, [[cereal]]s, sauces, [[gelatin]]s, etc. It is a significant ingredient in most commercial [[curry powder]]s.

Turmeric (coded as [[E number|E100]] when used as a [[food additive]]) is used to protect food products from sunlight. The [[oleoresin]] is used for oil-containing products. The curcumin/[[polysorbate]] solution or curcumin powder dissolved in alcohol is used for water containing products. Over-coloring, such as in pickles, relishes and mustard, is sometimes used to compensate for fading.

In combination with [[annatto]] (E160b), turmeric has been used to color [[cheese]]s, [[yogurt]], dry mixes, [[salad dressing]]s, winter [[butter]] and [[margarine]]. Turmeric is also used to give a yellow color to some prepared [[Mustard (condiment)|mustard]]s, canned chicken [[broth]]s and other foods (often as a much cheaper replacement for [[saffron]]).

Turmeric is widely used as a spice in Indian and other South Asian cooking. Momos (Nepali meat dumplings), a traditional dish in South Asia, are spiced with turmeric.

===Medicine===
In the [[Ayurvedic]] [[medicine]], turmeric is thought to have many [[medicinal properties]] and many in India use it as a readily available [[antiseptic]] for cuts and burns. Whenever there is a cut or a [[bruise]], the home remedy is to reach for turmeric powder. Ayurvedic [[Physician|doctors]] say it has [[fluoride]] which is thought to be essential for teeth. It is also used as an [[antibacterial]] agent.

It is taken in some [[Asia]]n countries as a dietary supplement, which allegedly helps with stomach problems and other ailments. It is popular as a tea in [[Okinawa]], [[Japan]]. It is currently being investigated for possible benefits in [[Alzheimer's disease]], [[cancer]] and [[Liver#Diseases of the liver|liver disorders]].

Turmeric, under the name Avea, is becoming popular to treat depression.

It is only in recent years that Western scientists have increasingly recognised the [[medicinal properties]] of turmeric. According to a 2005 article in the Wall Street Journal titled, "Common Indian Spice Stirs Hope," research activity into [[curcumin]], the active ingredient in turmeric, is exploding. Two hundred and fifty-six curcumin papers were published in the past year according to a search of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Supplement sales have increased 35% from 2004, and the U.S. [[National Institutes of Health]] has four clinical trials underway to study curcumin treatment for pancreatic cancer, multiple myeloma, Alzheimer's, and colorectal cancer.

A 2004 UCLA-Veterans Affairs study involving genetically altered mice suggests that curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, might inhibit the accumulation of destructive beta amyloids in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients and also break up existing plaques. "Curcumin has been used for thousands of years as a safe anti-inflammatory in a variety of ailments as part of [[Ayurveda|Indian traditional medicine]]," Gregory Cole, Professor of medicine and neurology at the [[David Geffen School of Medicine]] at [[UCLA]] said.

Another 2004 study conducted at [[Yale University]] involved oral administration of curcumin to mice homozygous for the most common allele implicated in [[cystic fibrosis]]. Treatment with curcumin restored physiologically-relevant levels of protein function. [http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/304/5670/600]

Anti-tumoral effects against [[melanoma]] cells have been demonstrated [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15221965].

[http://www.currypharmaceuticals.com Curry Pharmaceuticals], based in North Carolina, is studying the use of a curcumin cream for [[psoriasis]] treatment. Another company is already selling a cream based on curcumin called "Psoria-Gold," which shows anecdotal promise of treating the disease.

A recent study involving mice has shown that turmeric slows the spread of [[breast cancer]] into lungs and other body parts. Turmeric also enhances the effect of [[taxol]] in reducing metastasis of breast cancer [http://cdmrp.army.mil/bcrp/era/abstracts2005/0210447_abs.pdf].

Curcumin is thought to be a powerful antinociceptive (pain-relieving) agent. In the November 2006 issue of ''Arthritis & Rheumatism'', a study was published that showed the effectiveness of turmeric in the reduction of joint inflammation, and recommended clinical trials as a possible treatment for the alleviation of arthritis symptoms.[http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/jabout/76509746/News.html] It is thought to work as a natural inhibitor of the [[cox-2]] enzyme, and has been shown effective in animal models for neuropathic pain secondary to diabetes, among others.<ref>Sharma S, Kulkarni SK, Agrewala JN, Chopra K. "Curcumin attenuates thermal hyperalgesia in a diabetic mouse model of neuropathic pain." Eur J Pharmacol. 2006 May 1; 536(3): 256-61</ref>

===Cosmetics===
Turmeric is currently used in the formulation of some sunscreens. Turmeric paste is used by some Indian women to keep them free of superfluous hair. Turmeric paste is applied to bride and groom before marriage in some places of [[India]] and Pakistan, where it is believed turmeric gives glow to skin and keeps some harmful bacteria away from the body. It also acts as an excellent anti-scarring agent when mixed with milk and applied on skin{{Fact|date=August 2007}}.

The Government of Thailand is funding a project to extract and isolate tetrahydrocurcuminoids (THC) from turmeric. THCs (not to be confused with [[tetrahydrocannabinol]], also known as THC) are colorless compounds that might have antioxidant and skin lightening properties and might be used to treat skin inflammations, making these compounds useful in cosmetics formulations.

===Dye===
Turmeric makes a poor fabric [[dye]] as it is not very lightfast (the degree to which a dye resists fading due to light exposure).

===Gardening===
Turmeric can also be used to deter ants. The exact reasons why turmeric repels ants is unknown, but anecdotal evidence suggests it works. [http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/organic/msg0720064529127.html]

== Chemistry ==

The active substance of turmeric is the [[polyphenol]] '''curcumin''', also known as C.I. 75300, or Natural Yellow 3. Systematic chemical name is <small>(1''E'',6''E'')-1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione</small>.
It can exist at least in two [[tautomerism|tautomeric]] forms, keto and enol. The keto form is preferred in solid phase and the enol form in solution.

[[image:curcumin_keto_form.png|right|frame|Curcumin Keto form]]
[[image:curcumin.png|right|frame|Curcumin Enol form]]

==See also==
* [[Kumkum]]

Dilao/Dilaw in Tagalog
==Notes==
<references />

== External links ==
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6090460.stm Study suggest extract of a spice used in curry could help prevent rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis]
*[http://www.plantcultures.org.uk/plants/turmeric_landing.html Plant Cultures: review of botany, history and uses]
*[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=14994335 Curcumin has potent anti-amyloidogenic effects for Alzheimer's beta-amyloid fibrils in vitro. (Ono et al, 2004)]
*[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11606625 The curry spice curcumin reduces oxidative damage and amyloid pathology in an Alzheimer transgenic mouse. (Lim et al, 2001)]
* [http://www.cosmeticsdesign.com/news/news-ng.asp?n=56987-tumeric-the-new Tumeric, the new active cosmetic ingredient] - about the project funded by the Government of Thailand to extract tetrahydrocurcuminoids (THC) from turmeric for cosmetics formulations
*[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15914628&query_hl=1 Curcumin and turmeric delay streptozotocin-induced diabetic cataract in rats.]
*[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15881869&query_hl=1 Administration of curcumin prevents a decrease in liver function due to Selenium poisoning
*[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15927892&query_hl=15 Curcumin is extremely effective in eliminating Neisseria gonorrhoeae cell adhesion in late-stage gonorrhoeae]
*[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16002051 In vitro and in vivo anti-tumoral effect of curcumin against melanoma cells]

{{Herbs & spices}}

[[Category:Zingiberaceae]]
[[Category:Spices]]
[[Category:Food colorings]]
[[Category:Natural dyes]]
[[Category:Chemopreventive agents]]
[[Category:Indian ingredients]]
[[Category:Pakistani cuisine]]

Turmeric - Revision history

MediaWiki default at 05:41, 25 September 2007