Curcuma longa

Scientific name: Curcuma longa L.

Synonym: Curcuma domestica Valeton

Botanical family: ZINGIBERACEAE

Vernacular names

(In territories with significant traditional TRAMIL use)

Haiti:

curcuma
safran

Saint Lucia:

indian saffron
tjitjima
turmeric

Other vernacular names

Haiti:

safran
safrán

Geographical distribution

Native to tropical Asia, pantropical due to cultivation.

Botanical description

Herbaceous acaulescent, from 60 to 90 cm. Thick, cylindrical or ellipsoid tubers, yellow inside. Oblong or elliptical leaves, 30 to 50 cm, acuminate. Cylindrical spikes of 10 to 20 cm on a 12 cm scape; pale green bracts, the upper ones pink; pale yellow flowers.

Voucher(s)

Jiménez, 685, JBSD

jaundice

rhizome, aqueous maceration, orally²

liver crisis ("mal fwa")

rhizome, aqueous maceration, orally²

jaundice

rhizome, decoction with salt, orally²

abscess

rhizome, decoction, orally¹

The rhizome of Curcuma longa is a condiment of relatively widespread human consumption and an industrial source of essential oil.

For abscesses:
prepare a decoction with 20 grams of rhizome in 4 cups (1 litre) of water, boil
for 10 minutes in a covered vessel. Leave to cool, strain (filter) and drink 1 cup 3-4 times a day.

For jaundice or liver disorders:
crush 20 grams of rhizome and add them to 4 cups (1 litre) of boiled water, leave to stand for 12 hours. Strain (filter) and drink the preparation in several doses over the course of the following 12 hours³⁸.

Preparations must never be stored for more than 24 hours, even if refrigerated.

According to the information available:

The use for abscesses is classified as REC based on the significant traditional use documented in the TRAMIL surveys and the toxicity studies.

If deterioration is observed in the patient or the abscess persists for more than 5 days in adults and 3 days in children, seek medical attention.

The use for jaundice and liver disorders is classified as REC based on the significant traditional use documented in the TRAMIL surveys, the toxicity and validation studies and the scientific information published.

Due to the health risk of jaundice and liver conditions, an initial medical assessment is recommended. The use of this resource must be considered complementary to medical treatment, unless contraindicated.

If deterioration is observed in the patient or if the liver symptoms persist for more than 5 days in adults or 3 days in children under 5 years of age, seek medical attention.

This resource is contraindicated for people with bile duct obstructions, such as calculi, unless they are under medical supervision, have a history of hypersensitivity to the plant or are immunodeficient.

Rhizome dust can produce reactions on contact with the skin.

Not for use by women intending to become pregnant, during pregnancy, while breastfeeding or in children under 3 years of age.

TRAMIL Work²⁹
The freeze-dried aqueous extract (3.27% decoction), from fresh rhizome (66.67 mg/ml water, 1 g/kg/day) was administered orally to Hsd:ICR mice (10 males and 10 females) of 21.19 ± 1.95 grams, the control was performed with water (0.5 ml/20 g mouse) in another 10 mice of the same strain and characteristics, for 65 days with an additional 14 days of observation, according to the EPA.OPPTS.870.3100 protocol.
There was no mortality, nor were there any signs of toxicity (Irwin test). No changes in body weight other than those of the normal growth curve were observed. The macroscopic autopsy showed no alterations in the organs.

The dry rhizome administered in the diet (5%) of female Wistar rats for 14 days did not show signs of hepatotoxicity, but instead for 90 days presented reduction in normal weight gain and focal necrosis in the liver³⁰.

The rhizome in the daily diet (0.5%) of rats for 3 months did not modify food intake or weight gain, nor were histological changes detected³¹.

The aqueous dried rhizome extract (10 mg/kg) taken orally for 6 months in rats of both sexes, showed no signs of chronic toxicity³².

The aqueous dried rhizome extract (1 g/kg), taken orally for 21 days in male rats, showed signs of general toxicity³².

The LD₅₀ of the aqueous rhizome extract intraperitoneally in mice was 430 mg/kg³³.

The ethanolic extract (80%) from fresh rhizome (up to 3 g/kg) orally in mice for 24 hours showed no signs of toxicity³⁴.

The ethanolic rhizome extract, single dose (0.5, 1 or 3 g/kg) orally in mice and repeated doses (100 mg/kg/day) for 90 days, did not increase weight significantly and did not induce significant changes in the weight of the heart and lungs. Haematological studies revealed a significant decrease in leukocytes and red blood cells in relation to the controls. Weight gain of the sexual organs and increase of sperm (mobility and
quantity) were observed in the treated male mice. No spermatotoxic effect was found³⁵.

The ethanolic extract (50%) from dried rhizome (4 mg/kg), for 4 weeks orally in mice, did not show signs of subchronic toxicity on appetite, weight gain or on the central nervous system³⁶.

Dermal contact with rhizome dust may induce allergenic responses, in case of repeated contact³⁷.

There is no information available documenting the safety of medicinal use in children, during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

The rhizome contains quinoids: 2-hydroxymethyl-anthraquinone³; sesquiterpenes: atlantones, bisabolene⁴, bisacumol, bisacurone⁵, caryophyllene, curcumene⁶, curcumenone⁵; steroids: cholesterol, campesterol, stigmasterol⁷; monoterpenes: cineol⁸, camphene, terpinene⁶; phenylpropanoids: caffeic acid, ρ-coumaric acid⁹, 4-hydroxy cinnamoyl methane¹⁰; lignans: isoprocurcumenol⁵, 4-hydroxycinnamoyl(feruloxyl)methane¹¹; benzenoids: curcumin and derivatives¹², guaiacol¹³; carbohydrates: ukonan A¹⁴; alkaloids¹⁵; essential oil: turmerone, dehydroturmerone, zingiberene¹⁶, atlantone, curcumenol, borneol, camphor, terpinene¹⁶.

The plant also contains curcumins^17-18: demethoxycurcumin; fatty acids: caprylic acid; 1-phenylhydroxy-N-pentane¹⁹ and polysaccharides²⁰.

Proximate analysis of 100 g of the rhizome²¹: calories: 354; water: 11.4%; protein: 7.8%; fat: 9.9%; carbohydrates: 64.9%; fibre: 6.7%; ash: 6%; calcium: 182 mg; phosphorus: 268 mg; iron: 41.4 mg; sodium: 38 mg; potassium: 25 mg; carotene: 0 μg; thiamine: 0.15 mg; riboflavin: 0.23 mg; niacin: 5.14 mg; ascorbic acid: 26 mg.

TRAMIL Work²²
The aqueous extract (decoction) of rhizome, at a concentration of 1000 μg/ml in vitro, showed no antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus.

TRAMIL Work²³
The aqueous rhizome extract (15-minute infusion and maceration for 4 hours), in vitro, with hepatocytes isolated from rats experimentally intoxicated with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBH), in the diphenyl-picryl-hydrazil radical inhibition test (DPPH), with doses ≥ 0.5 mg of dry plant material/ml of suspension, protected from TBH-induced cell necrosis, without modifying lipid peroxidation. The activity against free radicals
was very weak.

The rhizome showed hepatoprotective¹⁹ and cytostatic properties in experimental models in vitro^24-25 and in vivo in mice at doses of 100 mg/kg²⁶.

Rhizome powder (500 mg, 4 times daily, for 1 week) orally, was significantly beneficial in 116 patients with acid, flatulent and atonic dyspepsia in a double-blind, randomised trial^27.

Curcumin is a yellow pigment that is attributed with protection against hepatotoxicity caused by paracetamol in rats²⁸.

Pharmacopoeia

Ed.3

References

1 JEAN-PIERRE L, 1988
TRAMIL survey. St. Lucia National Herbarium, Castries, St. Lucia.

2 WENIGER B, ROUZIER M, 1986
Enquête TRAMIL. Service Oecuménique d’Entraide SOE, Port au Prince, Haïti.

3 OGBEIDE ON, EDUAVEGUAVOEN OI, PARVEZ M,1985
Identification of 2-(hydroxymethyl) anthraquinone in Curcuma domestica. Pak J Sci 37(1/4):15-17.

4 SU HCF, HORVAT R, JILANI G, 1982
Isolation, purification, and characterization of insect repellents from Curcuma longa L. J Agric Food Chem
30:290-292.

5 OHSHIRO M, KUROYANAGI M, UENO A, 1990
Structures of sesquiterpenes from Curcuma longa. Phytochemistry 29(7):2201-2205.

6 CHEN YH, YU JG, FANG HJ, 1983
Studies on Chinese Curcuma. III. Comparison of the volatile oil and phenolic constituents from the rhizome
and the tuber of Cucurma longa. Chung Yao T’ung Pao 8(1):27-29.

7 MOON CK, PARK NS, KOH SK, 1976

Studies on the lipid components of Curcuma longa. I. The composition of fatty acids and sterols. Soul Taehakkyo Yakhak Nonmunjip 1:132.

8 YASUDA K, TSUDA T, SHIMIZU H, SUGAYA A, 1988
Multiplication of Curcuma species by tissue culture. Planta Med 54(1):75-79.

9 SCHULTZ JM, HERRMANN K, 1980
Occurrence of hydroxybenzoic acids and hydroxycinnamic acid in spices. IV. Phenolics of spices. Z Lebensm-Unters Forsch 171:193-199.

10 PARK SN, BOO YC, 1991
Cell protection from damage by active oxygen with curcuminoids. Patent-Fr Demande-2,655,054.

11 TODA S, MIYASE T, ARICHI H, TANIZAWA H, TAKINO Y, 1985
Natural antioxidants. III. Antioxidative components isolated from rhizome of Curcuma longa L. Chem Pharm Bull 33(4):1725-1728.

12 JENTZSCH K, SPIEGL P, KAMITZ R, 1970
Qualitative and quantitative studies of curcuma dyes in different Zingiberaceae drugs. 2. Quantitative studies. Sci Pharm 38(1):50-58.

13 KARIG F, 1975
Rapid identification of curcuma rhizomes with the tas (thermomicroseparation and application) process. Dtsch Apoth Ztg 115(10):325-328.

14 GONDA R, TOMODA M, TAKADA K, OHARA N, SHIMIZU N, 1992
The core structure of ukonan A, a phagocytosis-activating polysaccharide from the rhizome of Curcuma longa, and immunological activities of degradation products. Chem Pharm Bull 40(4):990-993.

15 WOO WS, CHI HJ, YUN HS, WOO LK, 1977
Phytochemical screening of Korean medicinal plants (II). Korean J Pharmacog 8:103-108.

16 DE SOUSA M, MATOS ME, MATOS FJ, MACHADO MI, CRAVEIRO AA, 1991
Constituintes químicos ativos de plantas medicinais Brasileiras. Laboratorio de produtos naturais, Fortaleza, Brasil: Ceará Edições UFC.

17 YANG M, DONG X, TANG Y, 1984
Studies of the chemical constituents of common turmeric (Curcuma longa). Chung Ts’ao Yao 15(5):197-198.

18 ZHAO DY, YANG MK, 1986
Separation and determination of cucurminoids in Curcuma longa L. and its preparation by HPLC. Yao Hsueh Pao 21(5):382-385.

19 KISO Y, SUZUKI Y, WATANABE N, OSHIMA Y, HIKINO H, 1983
Antihepatotoxic principles of Curcuma longa rhizomes. Planta Med 49(3):185-187.

20 GONDA R, TOMODA M, SHIMIZU N, KANARI M, 1990
Characterization of polysaccharides having activity on the reticuloendothelial system from the rhizome of Curcuma longa. Chem Pharm Bull Tokyo 38(2):482-486.

21 DUKE JA, ATCHLEY AA, 1986
Handbook of proximate analysis tables of higher plants. Boca Raton, USA: CRC Press. p56.

22 SOLIS PN, RODRIGUEZ N, ESPINOSA A, GUPTA MP, 2004
Estudio antimicrobiano de algunas plantas TRAMIL con usos en Martinica. Informe TRAMIL. Centro de Investigaciones Farmacognósticas de la Flora Panameña CIFLORPAN, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Panamá, Panamá, Panamá.

23 JOYEUX M, FLEURENTIN J, DORFMAN P, MONTIER F, 1988
Recherche d’une activité hépatotrope et antiradicalaire de plantes médicinales de la caraïbe. Rapport TRAMIL. Laboratoire de pharmacognosie, Centre des Sciences pour l’Environnement, Metz, France.

24 CHANG IM, WOO WS, 1980
Screening of Korean medicinal plants for antitumor activity. Arch Pharm Res 3(2):75-78.

25 KOSUGE T, YOKOTA M, SUGIYAMA K, YAMAMOTO T, NI MY, YAN SC, 1985
Studies of antitumor activities and antitumor principles of Chinese herbs. Yakugaku Zasshi 105(8):791-795.

26 ITOKAWA H, 1988
Research on antineoplastic drugs from natural sources, especially from higher plants. Yakugaku Zasshi 108(9):824-841.

27 4 WHO, 2002
WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants. Volume 1. www.who.int/medicines/library/trm/medicinalplants/pdf/259to266.pdf (28Feb2003).

28 DONATUS IA, SARDJOKO, VERMEULEN NPE, 1990
Cytotoxic and cytoprotective activities of curcumin. Effects on paracetamol induced cytotoxicity, lipid peroxidation and glutathione depletion in rat hepatocytes. Biochem Pharmacol 39(12):1869-1875.

29 PAZOS L, COTO T, GONZALEZ S, 2006
Toxicidad oral subcrónica, dosis repetida, en ratón, del extracto de rizoma fresco de Curcuma longa. Informe TRAMIL. Laboratorio de Ensayos Biológicos, LEBi, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Costa Rica.

30 DESHPANDE SS, LALITHA VS, INGLE AD, RASTE AS, GADRE SG, MARU GB, 1998
Subchronic oral toxicity of turmeric and ethanolic turmeric extract in female mice and rats. Toxicol Lett 95(3):183-193.

31 POLASA K, SESIKARAN B, KRISHNA TP, KRISHNASWAMY K, 1991
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) - induced reduction in urinary mutagens. Food Chem Toxicol 29(10):699-706.

32 CHAVALITTUMRONG P, CHIVAPAT S, RATTANAJARASROJ S, PUNYAMONG S, CHUTHAPUTTI A,
PHISALAPHONG C, 2002
Chronic toxicity study of curcuminoids in rats. Songklanakarin J Sci Technol 24(4):633-647.

33 YEGNANARAYANA M, SARAF AP, BALWANI JH, 1976
Comparison of anti-inflammatory effect of various extracts of Curcuma longa. Indian J Med Res 64(4):601-608.

34 GILANI AH, SHAH AJ, GHAYUR MN, MAJEED GK, 2005
Pharmacological basis for the use of turmeric in gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders. Life Sciences 76(26):3089-3105.

35 QURESHI S, SHAH AH, AGEEL AM, 1992
Toxicity studies on Alpinia galanga and Curcuma longa. Planta Med 58(2):124-127.

36 MIQUEL J, MARTINEZ M, DIEZ A, DE JUAN E, SOLER A, RAMIREZ A, LABORDA J, CARRISON M, 1995
Effects of turmeric on blood and liver lipoperoxide levels of mice: lack of toxicity. Age (Chester Pa) 18(4):171-174.

37 SEETHARAM KA, PASRICHA JS, 1987
Condiments and contact dermatitis of the finger-tips. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 53(6):325-328.

38 ALBORNOZ A, 1993
Medicina Tradicional Herbaria. Caracas, Venezuela: Editorial Instituto Farmacoterápico Latino S.A. p227.

Disclaimer

The information provided is for educational purposes only for the benefit of the general public and health professionals. It is not intended to take the place of either the written law or regulations. Since some parts of plants could be toxic, might induce side effects, or might have interactions with certain drugs, anyone intending to use them or their products must first consult with a physician or another qualified health care professional. TRAMIL has no responsibility whatsoever towards the user for any decision, action or omission made in relation to the information contained in this Pharmacopoeia.

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Curcuma longa

Vernacular names

Haiti:

Saint Lucia:

Haiti:

Geographical distribution

Botanical description

Voucher(s)

Pharmacopoeia

References

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