Turmeric is a plant native to Southeast Asia known for its yellow root. The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin, which has strong anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Historically, turmeric has been used in Indian Ayurvedic medicine and as a spice. Recent studies show curcumin may help reduce inflammation, stimulate autophagy, and have anti-depressant effects. Future studies will continue to explore curcumin's potential health benefits such as preventing breast cancer and improving cognitive function.

1. Turmeric:
A Science-Based Overview
of Health Benefits
Kindra Davison
HW499
February, 2017

2. What is Turmeric?

Turmeric is an herb native to Southeast Asia. The useful part of the plant is the root. It
has a strong scent and rich yellow color.

The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin. Curcumin is a very strong anti-oxidant
with powerful anti-inflammatiory effects.

3. History of Use

The earliest known use of turmeric dates back to 4000 BC in India. It has traditionally been used as a
medicine, a food spice, and a dye.

Early European explorers brought turmeric back to Europe in the 1300s.

Turmeric is one of the most commonly used medicines in traditional Ayurvedic medicine. The flowers of the
plant have been used to treat worms, jaundice, and sexually transmitted diseases, while the famously yellow
root has untold uses for disease treatment, cooking, and cosmetics
(Turmeric: Origin and History, 2013)

4. Benefit: Anti-Inflammatory

Chronic inflammation is a key factor in many diseases including cancer, diabetes,
cardiovascular, neurological, inflammatory bowel disease and pulmonary diseases.
Through its antioxidant properties, turmeric can help prevent and reduce severity of these
diseases (He, Y., Yue, Y., Zheng, X., Zhang, K., Chen, S., & Du, Z. (2015).

Patients with osteoarthritis show improvement in pain, physical function, and quality of life
after taking curcumin (Chin, 2016).

5. Benefit: Autophagy Stimulator

Autophagy is the process by which the body destroys old, damaged, or malfunctioning cells.
This process normally occurs only after several days in the fasted state, because the body
is trying to “clean up” the cells and create an environment that is more able to withstand the
stress of starvation. Curcumin has been shown in many studies to induce this process
without fasting.

Studies have shown curcumin to be effective at inducing autophagy and thereby inhibiting
cancer growth in melanoma cells, brain tumors, breast cancer, and kidney disease (Zhao, et
al, 2016).

6. Benefit: Anti-Depressant

A 2015 analysis of all the relevant literature concluded that “there is supporting evidence
that curcumin administration reduces depressive symptoms in patients with major
depression” (Al-Karawi, et al, 2016)

In obese subjects with depression, curcumin was also shown to significantly improve anxiety
levels after only one month (Esmaily, et al, 2015).

7. Future Studies to Look Out For

Here is a list of studies that are currently in the works that will investigate further into
turmerics many health benefits:

Re: Anti-depressant effects:

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study with 40 patients. Patients will be
randomized to receive either 500 mg/day of curcumin or placebo for 6 weeks (Tirat
Carmel Mental Health, 2013).

Re: Prevention of Breast cancer:

A randomized clinical trial will study the effects of curcumin in reducing inflammatory
changes in breast tissue in obese women at high risk for breast cancer (Pilot Study of
Curcumin for Women With Obesity and High Risk for Breast Cancer, 2016).

Re: Alzheimers:

A randomized trial will study the effects of curcumin on age-related cognitive impairment.
Subjects will be randomly assigned to either a placebo or the curcumin supplement for
18. The study will include 132 subjects aged 50-90 years who already exhibit some
memory issues (18-Month Study of Curcumin, 2015).

8. Conclusion

Turmeric, or more specifically, curcumin, has been shown to have so many potential
health benefits that it is starting to be taken very seriously as a nutraceutical. Scientists
have begun tinkering with the compounds in curcumin in order to make it more potent
and more bioavailable in the body (Pulido-Moran, et al, 2016). It is only a matter of time
before this powerful herb will be a mainstream medicine for many chronic illnesses.

Bonus: There are NO side effects!

9. References
Al-Karawi, D., Al Mamoori, D. A., & Tayyar, Y. (2016). The Role of Curcumin Administration in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder: Mini
Meta- Analysis of Clinical Trials. Phytotherapy Research: PTR, 30(2), 175-183. doi:10.1002/ptr.5524
Chin, K. (2016). The spice for joint inflammation: anti-inflammatory role of curcumin in treating osteoarthritis. Drug Design, Development And
Therapy, 103029-3042.
Esmaily, H., Sahebkar, A., Iranshahi, M., Ganjali, S., Mohammadi, A., Ferns, G., & Ghayour-Mobarhan, M. (2015). An investigation of the effects of
curcumin on anxiety and depression in obese individuals: A randomized controlled trial. Chinese Journal Of Integrative Medicine, 21(5), 332-
338. doi:10.1007/s11655-015-2160-z
He, Y., Yue, Y., Zheng, X., Zhang, K., Chen, S., & Du, Z. (2015). Curcumin, inflammation, and chronic diseases: how are they linked?. Molecules
(Basel, Switzerland), 20(5), 9183-9213. doi:10.3390/molecules20059183
Pilot Study of Curcumin for Women With Obesity and High Risk for Breast Cancer. (2016).
Pulido-Moran, M., Moreno-Fernandez, J., Ramirez-Tortosa, C., & Ramirez-Tortosa, M. (2016). Curcumin and Health. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland),
21(3), 264. doi:10.3390/molecules21030264
Tirat Carmel Mental Health, C. (2013). Efficacy and Safety Curcumin in Depression.
Turmeric: Origin and History. (2013).
Zhao, G., Han, X., Zheng, S., Li, Z., Sha, Y., Ni, J., & ... Song, Z. (2016). Curcumin induces autophagy, inhibits proliferation and invasion by
downregulating AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in human melanoma cells. Oncology Reports, 35(2), 1065-1074. doi:10.3892/or.2015.4413

10. References
Al-Karawi, D., Al Mamoori, D. A., & Tayyar, Y. (2016). The Role of Curcumin Administration in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder: Mini
Meta- Analysis of Clinical Trials. Phytotherapy Research: PTR, 30(2), 175-183. doi:10.1002/ptr.5524
Chin, K. (2016). The spice for joint inflammation: anti-inflammatory role of curcumin in treating osteoarthritis. Drug Design, Development And
Therapy, 103029-3042.
Esmaily, H., Sahebkar, A., Iranshahi, M., Ganjali, S., Mohammadi, A., Ferns, G., & Ghayour-Mobarhan, M. (2015). An investigation of the effects of
curcumin on anxiety and depression in obese individuals: A randomized controlled trial. Chinese Journal Of Integrative Medicine, 21(5), 332-
338. doi:10.1007/s11655-015-2160-z
He, Y., Yue, Y., Zheng, X., Zhang, K., Chen, S., & Du, Z. (2015). Curcumin, inflammation, and chronic diseases: how are they linked?. Molecules
(Basel, Switzerland), 20(5), 9183-9213. doi:10.3390/molecules20059183
Pilot Study of Curcumin for Women With Obesity and High Risk for Breast Cancer. (2016).
Pulido-Moran, M., Moreno-Fernandez, J., Ramirez-Tortosa, C., & Ramirez-Tortosa, M. (2016). Curcumin and Health. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland),
21(3), 264. doi:10.3390/molecules21030264
Tirat Carmel Mental Health, C. (2013). Efficacy and Safety Curcumin in Depression.
Turmeric: Origin and History. (2013).
Zhao, G., Han, X., Zheng, S., Li, Z., Sha, Y., Ni, J., & ... Song, Z. (2016). Curcumin induces autophagy, inhibits proliferation and invasion by
downregulating AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in human melanoma cells. Oncology Reports, 35(2), 1065-1074. doi:10.3892/or.2015.4413