Medicinal Importance of Turmeric (Curcuma Longa) and its Natural Products

It is believed that natural products exhibiting medicinal benefits do not cause systemic side effects or they cause acceptable side effects. Due to the increase in research output and increased awareness about the importance of natural products, nowadays, a large fraction of the population is now shifting their orientation towards the use of natural products in daily use. Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is one such blessing for all of us. It is one of the most important and abundant spices used in Asian food. It is cultivated around the world and originated in India, Indonesia, and Southeast Asia. Turmeric powder has a bitter, sharp taste and is yellow. It is used to provide color and flavor to various food products such as; butter, mustard, cheese, etc. Turmeric belongs to the Zingiberaceae family. It is one of the most commonly used medicinal herbs in India and China and is used for the treatment of jaundice and liver problems. Turmeric is known to have a wide range of pharmacological properties such as anti-microbial, anti-protozoal, anti-malarial, anti-venom, anti-proliferative, anti-aging, antiinflammatory, anti-tumor, etc. It is identified that the yellow color of the turmeric is due to the presence of Curcumin which is the most important and potent bioactive compound of turmeric. Curcumin is a curcuminoid that is extracted from the rhizomes of Curcuma Longa. Curcumin possesses remarkable medicinal properties and can also be used in cosmetic products. Curcumin has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It helps to treat various diseases, some of them are; hay fever, depression, Alzheimer’s, treat cholesterol, itching, and osteoarthritis. It is involved in maintaining the functioning of the brain and reduces the risk of brain and heart diseases. Investigators are focusing to find out the therapeutic role of curcumin in asthma, diabetes, cancer, indigestion, and many other disorders. In this chapter, we will discuss the natural compounds present in turmeric and their medicinal importance.