Turmeric Extract

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is an herb of the ginger family that is native to southern Asia and cultivated extensively in India, China, Indonesia, and other tropical countries. Turmeric is the main spice in curry and contains a natural yellow-colored pigment called curcumin.1 Dried turmeric rhizomes are ground and made into a soluble powder. Turmeric has long been used for inflammatory conditions and liver support.

Health Benefits

Turmeric extract may help ease osteoarthritis pain due to its anti-inflammatory property.1,2 It has been also used for digestive complaints, such as dyspepsia.3 It has been suggested in human and preclinical studies that Turmeric may protect the liver by reducing a liver enzyme associated with liver problems (ALA: alanine transaminase) and alcohol induced fatty liver.4,5 Turmeric supplementation may also protect the kidneys by lowering urinary protein excretion and substances increasing inflammation (e.g., proinflammatory cytokines) in diabetic patients.6

References

  1. Tumeric. MedlinePlus. NIH. Accessed in August 2015. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/662.html
  2. Chainani-Wu N. Safety and anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin: a component of tumeric (Curcuma longa). J Altern Complement Med. 2003 Feb;9(1):161-8. Review. PubMed PMID: 12676044.
  3. Tumeric root. American Botanical Council. Accessed in August 2015. http://cms.herbalgram.org/expandedE/Turmericroot.html
  4. Kim SW, Ha KC, Choi EK, Jung SY, Kim MG, Kwon DY, Yang HJ, Kim MJ, Kang HJ, Back HI, Kim SY, Park SH, Baek HY, Kim YJ, Lee JY, Chae SW. The effectiveness of fermented turmeric powder in subjects with elevated alanine transaminase levels: a randomised controlled study. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2013 Mar 8;13:58. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-13-58. PubMed PMID: 23497020; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3600681.
  5. Nwozo SO, Osunmadewa DA, Oyinloye BE. Anti-fatty liver effects of oils from Zingiber officinale and Curcuma longa on ethanol-induced fatty liver in rats. J Integr Med. 2014 Jan;12(1):59-65. doi: 10.1016/S2095-4964(14)60006-6. PubMed PMID: 24461596.
  6. Khajehdehi P, Pakfetrat M, Javidnia K, Azad F, Malekmakan L, Nasab MH, Dehghanzadeh G. Oral supplementation of turmeric attenuates proteinuria, transforming growth factor-β and interleukin-8 levels in patients with overt type 2 diabetic nephropathy: a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study. Scand J Urol Nephrol. 2011 Nov;45(5):365-70. doi: 10.3109/00365599.2011.585622. Epub 2011 May 31. PubMed PMID:  21627399