Hannah Barry
Student Pharmacist
Background: Turmeric has traditionally been used as medically, as a food and as cosmetics. Turmeric is a spice that is used in some curry dishes and mustards. It has a unique yellow color and it sometimes used as a color additive in foods.
Pharmacology: Curcumin is the active form of turmeric. It has very low systemic bioavailability when given orally. Curcumin is given as a lipophilic form, curcuminoid, which is shown to be absorbed systemically unlike curcumin. With turmeric’s main use as an anti-inflammatory agent, the curcumin has been shown to interfere with the eicosanoid pathway, which involves cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase enzymes.
Spring 2022
The Times of India. (2021, August 18). Surprising health benefits of turmeric you should know about - times of India. The Times of India. Retrieved March 31, 2022, from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/healthfitness/diet/surprising-health-benefits-of-turmeric-youshould-know-about/articleshow/85427219.cms
Common Uses: Turmeric has been used medicinally for hundreds of years in some cultures and countries. Many people use turmeric for its antiinflammatory properties such as the Hindus, while some use it for pain, wounds, and respiratory conditions. Turmeric is also used for preventing cancer, fighting depression, lowering risk of heart disease, fighting free radicals, and improving memory.
Interactions: The main interactions turmeric has is with anticoagulation properties and thrombolytic agents. 113