TURMERIC (CURCUMA LONGA LINN.); A PANACEA FOR HUMAN HEALTH

In medical science, “A panacea is a universal remedy for all kinds of diseases of human being”. “It has the ability to cure all diseases.” Turmeric, botanically identified as Curcuma longa Linn. (Zingiberaceae family) is an Indian Ayurvedic drug which has been used in medicine, food, cosmetic and dye ever since the time of the Vedas. It is a plant native to India and has been used for the treatment of a number of diseases in Ayurvedic literature. The rhizome of the plant is used for medicine and food either in the fresh form or in dried form. In Ayurveda, the drug is effective for the treatment of indigestion, constipation, haemmorrhoides, helminthes, jaundice and hepatitis, respiratory diseases like asthma, bronchitis, chest allergy, rhinitis, sinusitis, all kinds of poly urea including diabetes, joint pain and swellings, skin diseases and soon. The list of indications of Turmeric is very high as per classical Ayurvedic literature. Interestingly the drug has also been extensively studied on the basis of modern scientific parameters on a number of human pathologies mainly related to inflammation, allergy, autoimmunity, tumor formation and free radical induced damages. This review attempts to compile and present all these medicinal efficacies of Turmeric on the basis of published classical and modern literature in such a way that justifies the fact that “medicinal efficacy of Turmeric is nothing less than the efficacy of a panacea”. Details will be discussed in the manuscript.