The Mahdi Times The Mahdi Times, Issue #28, March 2015 | Page 30

Turmeric

Other common name(s):
jiang huang, haridra,
Indian saffron
Scientific/medical name(s):
Curcuma longa, Curcuma
domestica
Description
Turmeric is a spice grown
in India and other tropical
regions of Asia. It has a
long history of use in
herbal remedies,
particularly in China, India,
and Indonesia. The root
and rootstock, or rhizome,
of the plant contain
curcumin, which is
considered to be the active

ingredient. Curcumin is not
related to cumin, which is a
spice made from the seeds
of a different plant.
Overview
Turmeric is a common food
flavoring and coloring in
Asian cooking. Animal and
laboratory studies have
found that curcumin, an
antioxidant that is an active
ingredient in turmeric,
demonstrated some anticancer effects in the lab.
But human research is
needed to determine
curcumin's role in cancer
prevention and treatment
in people. Several types of