Turmeric
Curcuma aromatica Salisbury
Curcuma longa
‘Orally, turmeric is used for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), dyspepsia, abdominal pain, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, hemorrhage, diarrhea, flatulence, abdominal bloating, loss of appetite, jaundice, hepatitis, Helicobacter pylori (H pylori), peptic ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, and liver and gallbladder conditions. It is also used for headaches, bronchitis, common cold, respiratory infections, hyperlipidemia, lichen planus, radiation mucositis, fibromyalgia, fatigue, leprosy, fever, amenorrhea, pruritus, surgical recovery, and cancer, including colorectal cancer and prostate cancer. Other uses include depression, Alzheimer's disease, anterior uveitis, diabetes, edema, worms, kidney inflammation, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), tuberculosis, cystitis, and joint pain.”
- http://naturaldatabase.therapeuticresearch.com/nd/Search.aspx?cs=NONMP&s=ND&pt=100&id=662&ds=&name=TURMERIC&searchid=63766048
“This herb, a spice used worldwide, but especially in China, India, and Indonesia, is a multifunctional and choleretic agent. The essential oil of the herb has been found to stimulate contractions of the gallbladder and increase the secretion of bile. In addition, the herb can stimulate pancreatic exocrine secretions, in terms of volume and amylase output. Curcumin, the major active principle of Yu Yin, [sic] significantly increases the hepatic level of glutathione S-transferase (GST) and acid-soluble sulfhydryl (-SH). It can reverse aflatoxin-induced liver damage. The herb and curcumin have anti-inflammatory, antitumor and anti-infectious properties. The anti-inflammatory effect is probably due to a non-Redox inhibition of the leukotrien system. Curcumin exerts a remarkable effect on both reticuloendothelial system-potentiation and alkaline phosphatase-inducing activities. It potently inhibits 12 lipooxygenase and cyclooxygenase activity. The antitumor effect of curcumin has been substantiated in animal experiments. Curcumin can reduce the number of tumours, as well as their size in azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon tumorigenesis in mice. It is a chemopreventive agent against carcinogenesis. It is also antimutagenic, as well as anticancer promoting, very effective in inhibiting K-562 Ehrlich tumor cell growth. In vitro, curcumin inhibits lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of TNF and IL-1 by human monocytic macrophage cell lines and reduces the biological activity of TNG in L0929 fibroblast lytic assay. Curcumin exhibits an anti-infectious activity. In current clinical trials for AIDS patients, it has been found that curcumin inhibits HIV-1 integrase, with an IC50 concentration of 40 μM and 250 μM, respectively. Curcumin has a potent antioxidative activity; it can lower lipid peroxidation by enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzyme. Sriniva et al. reported that turmerin, a water-soluble peptide isolated from Curcuma longa, contributes this antioxidant effect. At a concentration of 183 nM, it offers 870% protection to membranes and DNA against oxidation injury. Curcumin inhibits platelet aggregation and moderates eicosanoid biosynthesis. The other ingredient of this herb, ar-turmerone, is found to be a potent antivenom against snakebite. It can neutralize the hemorrhagic activity of several venoms. In folk medicine, this herb was used to activate blood flow, remove blood stasis, promote the circulation of qi and relieve depression, remove ‘heat’ from the heart, resuscitate and normalize gallbladder function, and cure jaundice. It was claimed that the herb can solubilize gallstones. The herb is clinically effective against early cervic cancer and leukemia.”
- Pharmacology of Chinese Herbs
“This herb, a spice used worldwide, but especially in China, India, and Indonesia, is a multifunctional and choleretic agent. The essential oil of the herb has been found to stimulate contractions of the gallbladder and increase the secretion of bile. In addition, the herb can stimulate pancreatic exocrine secretions, in terms of volume and amylase output. Curcumin, the major active principle of Yu Yin, [sic] significantly increases the hepatic level of glutathione S-transferase (GST) and acid-soluble sulfhydryl (-SH). It can reverse aflatoxin-induced liver damage. The herb and curcumin have anti-inflammatory, antitumor and anti-infectious properties. The anti-inflammatory effect is probably due to a non-Redox inhibition of the leukotrien system. Curcumin exerts a remarkable effect on both reticuloendothelial system-potentiation and alkaline phosphatase-inducing activities. It potently inhibits 12 lipooxygenase and cyclooxygenase activity. The antitumor effect of curcumin has been substantiated in animal experiments. Curcumin can reduce the number of tumours, as well as their size in azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon tumorigenesis in mice. It is a chemopreventive agent against carcinogenesis. It is also antimutagenic, as well as anticancer promoting, very effective in inhibiting K-562 Ehrlich tumor cell growth. In vitro, curcumin inhibits lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of TNF and IL-1 by human monocytic macrophage cell lines and reduces the biological activity of TNG in L0929 fibroblast lytic assay. Curcumin exhibits an anti-infectious activity. In current clinical trials for AIDS patients, it has been found that curcumin inhibits HIV-1 integrase, with an IC50 concentration of 40 μM and 250 μM, respectively. Curcumin has a potent antioxidative activity; it can lower lipid peroxidation by enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzyme. Sriniva et al. reported that turmerin, a water-soluble peptide isolated from Curcuma longa, contributes this antioxidant effect. At a concentration of 183 nM, it offers 870% protection to membranes and DNA against oxidation injury. Curcumin inhibits platelet aggregation and moderates eicosanoid biosynthesis. The other ingredient of this herb, ar-turmerone, is found to be a potent antivenom against snakebite. It can neutralize the hemorrhagic activity of several venoms. In folk medicine, this herb was used to activate blood flow, remove blood stasis, promote the circulation of qi and relieve depression, remove ‘heat’ from the heart, resuscitate and normalize gallbladder function, and cure jaundice. It was claimed that the herb can solubilize gallstones. The herb is clinically effective against early cervic cancer and leukemia.”
- Pharmacology of Chinese Herbs