Curcuma longa, a bitter taste tropical plant that belongs to the Zingiberaceae family cultivated extensively in Asia, India, China and many other countries [1], has been traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat multiple symptoms and as a natural remedy for many other ailments and affections. Curcuma longa resembles a lot other Zingiberaceae family plants as Zingiber officinale (Ginger), and as this one has many known properties and health benefits. The powder obtained from the dried rhizome of Curcuma longa (turmeric), known as curry, is used in many traditional Indian dishes and is part of the Indian diet since centuries ago.

Almost everyone is familiar with the yellow color of curry, but not everyone knows that this color is the effect of a polyphenol found in Curcuma longa rhizome, a polyphenol known as Curcumin.

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane), one of the most active chemical constituents found in Turmeric or Curcuma longa, is a pungent, bitter and astringent Turmeric constituent that has been traditionally used in herbal preparations and as a dye and flavoring agent, a polyphenol compound from the group of curcuminoids. Now scientists from Ludwig-Maximilans University in Munich (LMU) led by PD Dr. Beatrice Bachmeier, have discovered that Curcumin suppresses metastases of certain cancers. Image: Turmeric root by Shu Tu under Creative Commons license (CC BY 2.0).

CURCUMA LONGA

Family: Zingiberaceae
Genus: Curcuma
Common name: Turmeric, Curcuma longa, Curcuma domestica Valeton.

More than one billion human adults worldwide are overweight [8]. Obesity has not only been an image and self esteem problem for those suffering it, it has also other resultant health hazards which include diabetes, cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome, all worldwide medical problems [4]. In spite control of diet and exercise are cornerstones of the management of excess weight, researchers have been also investigating other ways to control weight, the research into products that slow the absorption of carbohydrates through the inhibition of enzymes responsible for their digestion [4]. Among some of them we have the so-called alpha-amylase and glucosidase inhibitors.

The common white bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) produces an alpha-amylase inhibitors or starch blockers, which have been characterized and tested in numerous clinical studies [4], demonstrating their ability to cause weight loss with doses of 500 to 3000 mg per day, in either a single dose or in divided doses [4].

PHASEOLUS VULGARIS

Family: Phabaceae
Genus: Phaseolus
Common name: Common bean, White bean, Bean tabera.

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane), is one of the most active chemical constituents found in Turmeric or Curcuma longa. Traditionally used in herbal preparations and as a dye and flavoring agent, Curcumin is a polyphenol compound from the group of curcuminoids that is known for its characteristic yellow color, the color we can seen in curry powder, extracted from Turmeric root and used in many traditional culinary Indian recipes, but does it contain the key to cure cancer? Image: Vietnam Plants under Creative Commons license (CC BY 2.0).

CURCUMA LONGA

Family: Zingiberaceae
Genus: Curcuma
Common name: Turmeric, Curcuma longa, Curcuma domestica Valeton.

Curcumin (diferuloyl methane), the phytochemical extracted from Curcuma longa root and the turmeric isoflavone exerting antioxidant, anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects used since centuries ago in Ayurvedic medicinal treatments and as a spice in many traditional Indian and also European dishes, has shown promising results on the treatment of tumor growth castration-resistant on androgen deprivation prostate cancer patients, as a study from Jefferson's Kimmel Cancer Center shows [1].

CURCUMA LONGA

Family: Zingiberaceae
Genus: Curcuma
Common name: Turmeric