Luyang Dilaw

Luyang Dilaw
English Name: Turmeric
Common Name: Luyang Dilaw, Kalawag, Dilaw, Lampuyang, lawag[1]
Scientific Name: Curcuma longa [1]

Family Name: Zingiberidaceae [1]



Intoduction

Luyang dila is a perennial plant with roots or tubers oblong, palmate, and deep orange inside; root-leaves about 2 feet long, lanceolate, long, petioled, tapering at each end, smooth, of a uniform green; petioles sheathing spike, erect, central, oblong, green; flowers dull yellow, three or five together surrounded by bracteolae. It is propagated by cuttings from the root, which when dry is in curved cylindrical or oblong tubers 2 or 3 inches in length, and an inch in diameter, pointed or tapering at the end. [2] It is grown commercially in India and has been since before the written record. Unlike ginger, tumeric rhizome is brightly coloured, yellow as a matter of fact. The colour it produces is deep orange as compared to the canary yellow produced by saffron. It grew in India and was another import item for the Israelites. It was used by all the ancient cultures as both a food colouring and as a medicine. [3]

Part Used:

RHIZOME
(root)

Active Constituents
Turmeric constituents include the three curcuminoids: Curcumin (diferuloylmethane; the primary constituent and the one responsible for its vibrant yellow colour), demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin, as well as volatile oils (tumerone, atlantone and zingiberone), sugars, proteins and resins. [4]


Traditional Use:
Many South Asian countries use it as an antiseptic for cuts, burns, and bruises, and as an antibacterial agent. In Pakistan, it is used as an anti-inflammatory agent, and as a remedy for gastrointestinal discomfort associated with irritable bowel syndrome and other digestive disorders. In Pakistan and Afghanistan, turmeric is used to cleanse wounds and stimulate their recovery by applying it on a piece of burnt cloth that is placed over a wound. Indians use turmeric, in addition to its Ayurvedic applications, to purify blood and remedy skin conditions. Turmeric paste is used by women in some parts of India to remove superfluous hair. Turmeric paste is applied to the skin of the bride and groom before marriage in some parts of India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, where it is believed to make the skin glow and keep harmful bacteria away from the body. Turmeric is currently used in the formulation of several sunscreens. Several multinational companies are involved in making face creams based on turmeric. [5]
Another traditional use of turmeric is as a food colorant and dye for cloth – in both cases a cheaper alternative to saffron. It was and is used in religious ceremonies and offerings – often representing life, purity, and prosperity. [2]

Pharmacologic Activity

Internal

Antioxidant
Studies have shown that C. longa peel wastes possess antioxidant properties which could probably work by counteracting and or quenching of reactive oxygen species [6]

Alzheimer's Disease
Turmeric possesses multiple medicinal uses including treatment for AD. Curcuminoids, a mixture of curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin, are vital constituents of turmeric. It is generally believed that curcumin is the most important constituent of the curcuminoid mixture that contributes to the pharmacological profile of parent curcuminoid mixture or turmeric. A careful literature study reveals that the other two constituents of the curcuminoid mixture also contribute significantly to the effectiveness of curcuminoids in AD Turmeric possesses multiple medicinal uses including treatment for AD. Curcuminoids, a mixture of curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin, are vital constituents of turmeric. It is generally believed that curcumin is the most important constituent of the curcuminoid mixture that contributes to the pharmacological profile of parent curcuminoid mixture or turmeric. A careful literature study reveals that the other two constituents of the curcuminoid mixture also contribute significantly to the effectiveness of curcuminoids in AD. [7]

Colon Cancer

A recent study detailed the modulating effect of curcumin on apoptosis in tumors. Curcumin was administered to the test animals at 0.2% and 0.6% level in the diet late in the premalignant stage, during the promotion/progression stage of colon carcinogenesis in male rats. 0.2% curcumin significantly inhibited colon tumorigenesis in treated rats as compared to untreated controls. The inhibition of adenocarcinomas of the colon was found to be dose-dependent. The authors confirmed that the chemopreventive activity of curcumin is observed when it is administered prior to, during and after carcinogen treatment as well as late in the premalignant stage of colon carcinogenesis. [8]

Diabetes
Curcumin was given in different doses to SD rats after 4 weeks of diabetic GI complication induction. At the end of 4 weeks, significant GI dysfunction characterized by weight loss, delayed gastric emptying and intestinal transit associated with reduction in antioxidant enzyme levels and increased lipid peroxidation was observed. [9]
Weight loss
Curcumin was given in different doses to SD rats after 4 weeks of diabetic GI complication induction. At the end of 4 weeks, significant GI dysfunction characterized by weight loss, delayed gastric emptying and intestinal transit associated with reduction in antioxidant enzyme levels and increased lipid peroxidation was observed. [10]
Arthritis
Due to its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties, it is not surprising that Turmeric is now being used as an effective natural remedy for Arthritis pain. Therefore, taking 500mg to 1000mg Turmeric capsules three times per day may provide significant relief from osteoarthritis pain. [10]

Asthma
Since turmeric is an anti-inflammatory, it can help reduce the inflammation associated with asthma. Add 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder to a glass of warm milk, and drink this mixture as an effective asthma home remedy. [10]

Cardiovascular disease
Age-related cardiovascular decline in postmenopausal women is characterized, in part, by increased left ventricular afterload, an indication of vascular dysfunction and hypertension. An 8 week pilot study randomized 45 postmenopausal women to one of four interventions: placebo, 150mg curcumin, exercise training plus placebo or exercise training plus curcumin. [11]

 Gastrointestinal and Respiratory disorder
The crude extract of turmeric (Cl.Cr), relaxed the spontaneous and K+ (80 mM)-induced contractions in isolated rabbit jejunum as well as shifted the CaCl2 concentration-response curves. In rabbit tracheal preparation, Cl.Cr inhibited carbachol and K+-induced contractions. Activity directed fractionation revealed that the vasodilator and vasoconstrictor activities are widely distributed in the plant with no clear separation into the polar or non-polar fractions. When used for comparison, both curcumin and verapamil caused similar inhibitory effects in all smooth muscle preparations with relatively more effect against K+-induced contractions and that both were devoid of any vasoconstrictor effect and curcumin had no effect on atria. These data suggest that the inhibitory effects of Cl.Cr are mediated primarily through calcium channel blockade, though additional mechanism cannot be ruled out and this study forms the basis for the traditional use of turmeric in hyperactive states of the gut and airways. Furthermore, curcumin, the main active principle, does not share all effects of turmeric. [12]

Testicular Damage
The study demonstrated protective effects of low concentrations (1–50 μM) of curcumin on mouse sperm motility in vitro and on DEHP-induced damage of seminiferous tubules in testes and its ability to diminish the decrease in sperm motility in vivo. In contrast, curcumin used in high concentration (100 μM) decreased sperm motility and viability in vitro. The effects of curcumin were dependent on its concentration. In male germ cells in vivo the protective effect was seen despite the low bioavailability of curcumin. In contrast, high, unattainable in the organism, concentration of curcumin had a cytotoxic effect on male reproductive cells in vitro. Curcumin also had a protective effect against the harmful impact of DEHP on the male reproductive system. [13]

External

Dye

Precautions: Turmeric should be limited in women trying to get pregnant and should be avoided entirely hen pregnant. It should also be avoided by people with congestive heart failure. [14]

Toxicity

It has very low toxicity, too. As the global scenario is now changing towards the use of non-toxic plant products having traditional medicinal use, development of modern drugs from turmeric should be emphasized for the control of various diseases. Further evaluation needs to be carried out on turmeric in order to explore the concealed areas and their practical clinical applications, which can be used for the welfare of mankind. [15]

References

1. http://www.stuartxchange.com/Dilaw.html
2. Alter, Dean : Turmeric : http://www.herballegacy.com/Alter_History.html
3. (2010) Doctor Schar : http://doctorschar.com/archives/tumeric-curcuma-longa/ya
4. Yadav D, Yadav SK, Khar RK, Mujeeb M, Akhtar M. (2013): Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.): A promising spice for phytochemical and pharmacological activities. :http://www.greenpharmacy.info/article.asp?issn=0973-8258;year=2013;volume=7;issue=2;spage=85;epage=89;aulast=Yadav
5. Sahdeo Prasad and Bharat B. Aggarwal (2011): Turmeric, the Golden Spice: Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition. :http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92752/
6.    M. Chethankumar, N. Anand, N.S. Gangadhara (11-2010) “Isolation and characterization of an antioxidant protein from turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) peel waste: A new biological source”, in Journal of Pharmacy Research. LA: Association of Pharmaceutical Innorvators. : http://warponline.org/uploads/contents/168-content-3-Preliminary-Assessment-of-In-vitro-Anticoagulant-Activity-vs.-Heparin-1,000I.U.-and-Cytotoxicity-of-Selected-Philippine-Medicinal-Plants.pdf
7. Touqeer Ahmed and Anard- Hassan Gilani (07-19-2013) : Therapeutic Potential of Turmeric in Alzheimer's Disease: Curcumin or Curcuminoids?http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ptr.5030/abstract
8. Sabinsa Corporation : (2009) :Curcumin C3 Complex http://curcuminoids.com/Pharmacological.htm 
9. Nitin Indarchandji Kochar, Kshitija Gonge, Anil V. Chandewar, C. D. Khadse : (2014) :Curcumin ameliorates gastrointestinal dysfunction and oxidative damage in diabetic rats: Internationa Journal o Pharmacological Research: http://ijpr.ssjournals.com/index.php/journal/article/view/86
10. Apo Celestina de Alex (2013) : Health Benefits of Turmeric (Luyang Dilaw) : http://parakleto.com/index.php?do=/blog/623/health-benefits-of-turmeric-luyang-dilaw/
11. Sugawara J, Akazawa N, Miyaki A, Choi Y, Tanabe Y, Imai T, Maeda S. (06-2012): Effect of endurance exercise training and curcumin intake on central arterial hemodynamics in postmenopausal women: pilot study. Am J Hypertens.: Turmeric (Curcma longa) : http://www.drlise.net/attachments/tumeric.pdf
12. Anwarul Hassan Gilani, Abdul Jabbar Shah, Muhammad Naeel Ghayur, Kashif Majeed(2005) :Pharmacological basis for the use of turmeric in gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders : Life Sciences: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0024320505000950
13. Kataryza Glombik, Agnieszka basta-Kaim, Marta Sikora- Polaczek, Marta Kubera, Gabriela Starowicz, Jozefa Styma, (2014) :Curcumin influences semen quality parameters and reverses the di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP)-induced testicular damage in mice : Pharmacological Reports : http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1734114014001662
14. Specialty Herb Store : http://www.specialtyherbstore.com/Turmeric_Powder_Curcuma_longa_p/bhturm.htm
15. Hamid Nasri, Najmeh Shahinfard, Mortaza Rafieian, Samira Rafieian, Maryam Shirzad, Mahmoud Rafieian : (2014) : TURMERIC: A SPICE WITH MULTIFUNCTIONAL MEDICINAL PROPERTIES : Journal of Herbmed Pharmacology :http://herbmedpharmacol.com/index.php/herb/article/view/45

Compiled By: Casuyon, Mel Rose S.