CURCUMIN: PROPERTIES AND MEDICINAL APPLIATION

  Turmeric, derived from the plant Curcuma longa, is a gold-colored spice commonly used in the Indian subcontinent, not only for health care but also for the preservation of food and as a yellow dye for textiles. Curcumin, which gives the yellow color to turmeric, was first isolated almost two centuries ago, and its structure as diferuloylmethane was determined in 1910. Since the time of Ayurveda (1900 bc) numerous therapeutic activities have been assigned to turmeric for a wide variety of diseases and conditions, including those of the skin, pulmonary, and gastrointestinal systems, aches, pains, wounds, sprains, and liver disorders. Extensive research within the last half century has proven that most of these activities, once associated with turmeric, are due to curcumin. These include its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-carcinogenic, anti-mutagenic, anti-coagulant, anti-fertility, anti-diabetic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-protozoal, anti-viral, anti-fibrotic, anti-venom, anti-ulcer, hypotensive and hypocholesteremic activities. Its anti-cancer effect is mainly mediated through induction of apoptosis. Its anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and anti-oxidant roles may be clinically exploited to control rheumatism, carcinogenesis and oxidative stress-related pathogenesis. Thus, curcumin has the potential for the development of modern medicine for the treatment of various diseases.   Key words : Curcumin, diferuloylmethane, medicinal properties.