Though lengthy utilized in Ayurvedic drugs, the place it’s also referred to as haridra,[7] there is no such thing as a high-quality scientific proof that consuming turmeric or curcumin is efficient for treating any illness.[8][9]
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Origin and distribution[edit]
Varied species at the moment utilized and bought as “turmeric” in different elements of Asia have been proven to belong to a number of bodily related taxa, with overlapping native names.[10][11]
The best variety of Curcuma species by quantity alone is in India, at round 40 to 45 species. Current research have additionally proven that the taxonomy of Curcuma longa is problematic, with solely the specimens from South India being identifiable as C. longa.
Historical past[edit]
Turmeric was present in Farmana, relationship to between 2600 and 2200 BCE, and in a product owner’s tomb in Megiddo, Israel relationship from the second millennium BCE.[16] It was famous as a dye plant within the Assyrians Cuneiform medical texts from Ashurbanipal’s library at Nineveh from seventh century BCE.[15] In Medieval Europe, turmeric was known as “Indian saffron.”[15]
Etymology[edit]
The identify probably derives from Center English or Early Trendy English as turmeryte or tarmaret. It might be of Latin origin, terra merita (“meritorious earth”).[17]
Botanical description[edit]
In East Asia, the flowering time is normally in August. Terminally on the false stem is an inflorescence stem, 12 to twenty cm (4+1⁄2 to eight in) lengthy, containing many flowers. The bracts are mild inexperienced and ovate to rectangular with a blunt higher finish with a size of three to five cm (1 to 2 in).
Phytochemistry[edit]
Phytochemical parts of turmeric embrace diarylheptanoids, a category together with quite a few curcuminoids, resembling curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin.[8][4] Curcumin constitutes as much as 3.14% of assayed business samples of turmeric powder (the typical was 1.51%); Some 34 important oils are current in turmeric, amongst which turmerone, germacrone, atlantone, and zingiberene are main constituents.[24][25][26]
curry powder incorporates a lot much less (a mean of 0.29%).[23]
Makes use of[edit]
Friedrich Ratzel reported in The Historical past of Mankind throughout 1896, that in Micronesia, turmeric powder was utilized for embellishment of physique, clothes, utensils, and ceremonial makes use of.[37]