Curcuma longa. 姜 黄 Jiāng huáng   Turmeric Family: Zingiberaceae   
PART USED: Rhizome
Nature: Warm   FLAVOR: Pungent, bitter
FUNCTIONS
GROUP: Regulate Blood and removing stasis
1. Break up blood, promote energy flow, relieve pain.[2]
INDICATIONS
1. Pricking pain in chest, suppression of menses, abdominal swelling and lumps, fall injuries, carbuncle.[2]
PATENT COMBINATIONS
- Liver Qi stagnation: Spreads the Liver Qi and regulates the Stomach Cyperus & Peony- Shu gan wan. 
COMPARISONS: Jiang huang, Yu jin and E zhu
All three eliminate Blood stasis and promote flow of Qi
Jiang huang stimulates menstrual discharge, and relieve pain.
Yu jin also calms the nerves and ease the mind, and increase the flow of bile.
E zhu promotes the flow of qi and eliminate blood stasis with powerful effect, and to relieve pain by removing the stagnation of undigested food.[5]
PREPARATIONS: Dry rhizome 3-9 g.[2]

References
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Constituents.
Research.

Curcumin inhibits carrrageenin induced inflammation in rats;[1] its antiinflammatory activity is comparable in potency to that of phenylbutazone,[2] and has been shown to be due at least in part of cyclooxygenase inhibition.[3]
The cucuminoids are hepatoprotective, and although the mode of action is not fully understood it is known that they do not act by cleavage to caffeic acid, which is also hepatoprotective.[4] in addition to these effects, turmeric has antifertiliy effects in rats,[5] and in antibiotic and antiprotozoal in vitro.[6,7]
References
[1] Scimal, R. C, and Dhawan, C.N., (1973) J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 25, 447
[2] Nagarajan, K. and Arya, V.P. (1982) J. Sci. Ind. Res, 41, 432
[3] Wagner, H. et al. (1986) 6th Int. Conf. Prostaglandins and Related Compounds. Florence, Italy, June 3rd-6th. Pub. Fondzione Giovanni Lorenzini
[4] Kiso, Y. et al. (1983) Planta Med. 49, 185
[5] Garg, S.K. (1974) Planta Med. 26, 225
[6] Basa, A.B. (1971) Ind. J. Phar. 33, 131
[7] Dhar, M.L. et al. (1968) Ind. J. Exp. Biol. 6, 232

Curcumin: an orally bioavailable blocker of TNF and other pro-inflammatory biomarkers.
Aggarwal BB, Gupta SC, Sung B.
Abstract
TNFs are major mediators of inflammation and inflammation-related diseases, hence, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of blockers of the cytokine, TNF-α, for the treatment of osteoarthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis and ankylosis. These drugs include the chimeric TNF antibody (infliximab), humanized TNF-α antibody (Humira) and soluble TNF receptor-II (Enbrel) and are associated with a total cumulative market value of more than $20 billion a year. As well as being expensive ($15 000-20 000 per person per year), these drugs have to be injected and have enough adverse effects to be given a black label warning by the FDA. In the current report, we describe an alternative, curcumin (diferuloylmethane), a component of turmeric (Curcuma longa) that is very inexpensive, orally bioavailable and highly safe in humans, yet can block TNF-α action and production in in vitro models, in animal models and in humans. In addition, we provide evidence for curcumin's activities against all of the diseases for which TNF blockers are currently being used. Mechanisms by which curcumin inhibits the production and the cell signalling pathways activated by this cytokine are also discussed. With health-care costs and safety being major issues today, this golden spice may help provide the solution. Br J Pharmacol. 2013 Aug;169(8):1672-92. doi: 10.1111/bph.12131. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Therapeutic Roles of Curcumin: Lessons Learned from Clinical Trials
Subash C. Gupta, Sridevi Patchva, and Bharat B. Aggarwalcorresponding author
Abstract
Extensive research over the past half century has shown that curcumin (diferuloylmethane), a component of the golden spice turmeric (Curcuma longa), can modulate multiple cell signaling pathways. Extensive clinical trials over the past quarter century have addressed the pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy of this nutraceutical against numerous diseases in humans. Some promising effects have been observed in patients with various pro-inflammatory diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, uveitis, ulcerative proctitis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel disease, tropical pancreatitis, peptic ulcer, gastric ulcer, idiopathic orbital inflammatory pseudotumor, oral lichen planus, gastric inflammation, vitiligo, psoriasis, acute coronary syndrome, atherosclerosis, diabetes, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic microangiopathy, lupus nephritis, renal conditions, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, β-thalassemia, biliary dyskinesia, Dejerine-Sottas disease, cholecystitis, and chronic bacterial prostatitis. Curcumin has also shown protection against hepatic conditions, chronic arsenic exposure, and alcohol intoxication. Dose-escalating studies have indicated the safety of curcumin at doses as high as 12 g/day over 3 months. Curcumin’s pleiotropic activities emanate from its ability to modulate numerous signaling molecules such as pro-inflammatory cytokines, apoptotic proteins, NF–κB, cyclooxygenase-2, 5-LOX, STAT3, C-reactive protein, prostaglandin E2, prostate-specific antigen, adhesion molecules, phosphorylase kinase, transforming growth factor-β, triglyceride, ET-1, creatinine, HO-1, AST, and ALT in human participants. In clinical trials, curcumin has been used either alone or in combination with other agents. Various formulations of curcumin, including nanoparticles, liposomal encapsulation, emulsions, capsules, tablets, and powder, have been examined. In this review, we discuss in detail the various human diseases in which the effect of curcumin has been investigated.
AAPS J. 2013 Jan; 15(1): 195–218.
Published online 2012 Nov 10. doi: 10.1208/s12248-012-9432-8
PMCID: PMC3535097 PMID: 23143785 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Anti-inflammatory effect of Curcuma longa (turmeric) on collagen-induced arthritis: an anatomico-radiological study.
Taty Anna K, Elvy Suhana MR, Das S, Faizah O, Hamzaini AH.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE:
Curcuma longa (CL) or turmeric is an Ayurvedic herb that has been traditionally used to treat inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) is a well established experimental auto-immune mediated polyarthritis in susceptible strains of rodents. The main aim of the study was to observe the inflammatory, macroscopic and radiological changes in the arthritic ankle joints of experimentally collagen-induced arthritis animals treated with or without CL extract.
Thirty six male Sprague-Dawley (6-8 weeks-old, 150 ± 50) rats were equally divided into six groups. The first group served as a control while the rest five groups were immunized subdermally with 150 µg collagen type-II on day-0. All rats with established CIA with arthritis score (AS) exceeding 1 were treated orally with betamethasone (0.5 mg/ml/kg body weight) and varying doses of CL extract (30, 60 and 110 mg/ml/kg body weight) using olive oil as vehicle, daily for four weeks. Arthritic scoring (AS) of the paws, measurement of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and paw thickness and radiological scoring were performed.
RESULTS:
Treatment with 110 mg/ml/kg CL showed significant mean difference in the ESR (p<0.01), AS (p<0.05) and radiological scores (p<0.01) on day-28 compared to the vehicle treated group. The mean difference for the ESR, AS and radiological scores of this highest CL dose group were found to be insignificant compared to the betamethasone treated group.
CONCLUSION:
The administration of CL extract arrested the degenerative changes in the bone and joints of collagen-induced arthritic rats.
PMID: 21717043 Clin Ter. 2011;162(3):201-7. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Novel bioactivities of Curcuma longa constituents.
Roth GN, Chandra A, Nair MG.
Abstract
Bioassay-directed fractionation of ethyl acetate extract from Curcuma longa Linn. rhizomes yielded three curcuminoids, which displayed topoisomerase I and II enzyme inhibition activity. Curcumin III (3) was the most active curcuminoid, inhibiting topoisomerase at 25 micrograms mL-1. Curcumin I (1) and curcumin II (2) inhibited the topoisomerases at 50 micrograms mL-1. Fractionation of the volatile oil from the rhizomes afforded ar-turmerone (4), which displayed mosquitocidal activity with an LD100 of 50 micrograms mL-1 on Aedes aegyptii larvae. Bioassay-directed fractionation of hexane extract from the turmeric leaves yielded labda-8(17),12-diene-15,16 dial (5) with antifungal activity against Candida albicans at 1 micrograms mL-1 and inhibited the growth of Candida kruseii and Candida parapsilosis at 25 micrograms mL-1. In addition, 5 displayed 100% mosquitocidal activity on A. aegyptii larvae at 10 micrograms mL-1.
PMID: 9584408 DOI: 10.1021/np970459f J Nat Prod. 1998 Apr;61(4):542-5. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties of Curcuma longa (turmeric) versus Zingiber officinale (ginger) rhizomes in rat adjuvant-induced arthritis.
Ramadan G, Al-Kahtani MA, El-Sayed WM.
Abstract
Turmeric (rich in curcuminoids) and ginger (rich in gingerols and shogaols) rhizomes have been widely used as dietary spices and to treat different diseases in Ayurveda/Chinese medicine since antiquity. Here, we compared the anti-inflammatory/anti-oxidant activity of these two plants in rat adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA). Both plants (at dose 200 mg/kg body weight) significantly suppressed (but with different degrees) the incidence and severity of arthritis by increasing/decreasing the production of anti-inflammatory/pro-inflammatory cytokines, respectively, and activating the anti-oxidant defence system. The anti-arthritic activity of turmeric exceeded that of ginger and indomethacin (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug), especially when the treatment started from the day of arthritis induction. The percentage of disease recovery was 4.6-8.3% and 10.2% more in turmeric compared with ginger and indomethacin (P < 0.05), respectively. The present study proves the anti-inflammatory/anti-oxidant activity of turmeric over ginger and indomethacin, which may have beneficial effects against rheumatoid arthritis onset/progression as shown in AIA rat model.
PMID: 21120596 DOI: 10.1007/s10753-010-9278-0 Inflammation. 2011 Aug;34(4):291-301. doi: 10.1007/s10753-010-9278-0. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) extract may prevent the deterioration of spatial memory and the deficit of estimated total number of hippocampal pyramidal cells of trimethyltin-exposed rats.
Yuliani S, Mustofa, Partadiredja G.
Abstract
CONTEXT:
Protection of neurons from degeneration is an important preventive strategy for dementia. Much of the dementia pathology implicates oxidative stress pathways. Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) contains curcuminoids which has anti-oxidative and neuro-protective effects. These effects are considered to be similar to those of citicoline which has been regularly used as one of standard medications for dementia.
OBJECTIVE:
This study aimed at investigating the effects of turmeric rhizome extract on the hippocampus of trimethyltin (TMT)-treated Sprague-Dawley rats.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
The rats were divided randomly into six groups, i.e., a normal control group (N); Sn group, which was given TMT chloride; Sn-Cit group, which was treated with citicoline and TMT chloride; and three Sn-TE groups, which were treated with three different dosages of turmeric rhizome extract and TMT chloride. Morris water maze test was carried out to examine the spatial memory. The estimated total number of CA1 and CA2-CA3 pyramidal cells was calculated using a stereological method.
RESULTS:
The administration of turmeric extract at a dose of 200 mg/kg bw has been shown to prevent the deficits in the spatial memory performance and partially inhibit the reduction of the number of CA2-CA3 regions pyramidal neurons.
DISCUSSION:
TMT-induced neurotoxic damage seemed to be mediated by the generation of reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species. Turmeric extract might act as anti inflammatory as well as anti-oxidant agent.
CONCLUSIONS:
The effects of turmeric extract at a dose of 200 mg/kg bw seem to be comparable to those of citicoline.
PMID: 28440093 DOI: 10.1080/01480545.2017.1293087
Drug Chem Toxicol. 2018 Jan;41(1):62-71. doi: 10.1080/01480545.2017.1293087. Epub 2017 Apr 25. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Reflections about Osteoarthritis and Curcuma longa.
Akuri MC, Barbalho SM, Val RM, Guiguer EL.
Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic inflammatory degenerative process that affects joints such as the hands, hips, shoulders, feet, spine, and especially knees in millions of people worldwide. Some authors have shown that Curcuma longa components may exhibit benefic effects in the treatment of degenerative diseases as OA. This plant belongs to the family Zingiberaceae and it is popularly known as turmeric or saffron. This review intended to perform a retrospective search to identify studies involving humans and animal models. This review was based on articles linking OA and C. longa. Databases as Medline, Science Direct, and Lilacs were consulted and a retrospective search was carried out in order to identify studies involving humans and animal models. The curcuminoids from C. longa exhibit actions at different locations in the pathogenesis of OA once it may play an important role as anti-inflammatory, down-regulating enzymes as phospholipase A2, cyclooxygenase-2, and lipoxygenases, and reducing tumor necrosis factor-alpha-and interleukins such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and IL-8. They also act as inducer of apoptosis in synoviocytes, decreasing the inflammation process and may also reduce the synthesis of reactive oxygen species. For these reasons, new pharmaceutical technology and pharmacological studies should be proposed to determine the dose, the best delivery vehicle, pharmaceutical formulation and route of administration of this plant so its use as an adjunct in the treatment of OA may become a reality in clinical practice.
PMID: 28503046 PMCID: PMC5414457 DOI: 10.4103/phrev.phrev_54_16 Pharmacogn Rev. 2017 Jan-Jun;11(21):8-12. doi: 10.4103/phrev.phrev_54_16. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The anti-oxidant activity of turmeric (Curcuma longa).
Selvam R, Subramanian L, Gayathri R, Angayarkanni N.
Abstract
The turmeric anti-oxidant protein (TAP) had been isolated from the aqueous extract of turmeric. The anti-oxidant principle was found to be a heat stable protein. Trypsin treatment abolished the anti-oxidant activity. The anti-oxidant principle had an absorbance maximum at 280 nm. After gel filtration, the protein showed a 2-fold increase in anti-oxidant activity and showed 2 bands in the SDS-PAGE with approximate molecular weight range of 24,000 Da. The protein showed a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on the promoter induced lipid peroxidation. A 50% inhibitory activity of lipid peroxidation was observed at a protein concentration of 50 micrograms/ml. Ca(2+)-ATPase of rat brain homogenate was protected to nearly 50% of the initial activity from the lipid peroxidant induced inactivation by this protein. This protection of Ca(2+)-ATPase activity was found to be associated with the prevention of loss of -SH groups.
PMID: 7500637 J Ethnopharmacol. 1995 Jul 7;47(2):59-67. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov