What is Turmeric?? History and Benefits

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Turmeric is known as the " spice of life " and " spice gold " . It has used in India as a medicinal plant , and considerating sacred since ancient times . Turmeric has a very strong relationship with the social and cultural life of people in the Indian subcontinent . This " potion sunrise " with - yellowish orange color so-called herb sun by the people of the Vedic Period. We would not be surprised if the ancient times regarded as Oushadi , healing potions , concoctions of the most remarkable than the other herbs . Because turmeric has a good record since 6000 years ago as a herbr and in many socioreligious practices.

Turmeric is found in Southeast Asia , where there are many species associated with Curcuma that much , Although turmeric itself does not grow wild . Turmeric is Widely cultivated in Indonesia , Followed by China , Thailand , Cambodia , Indonesia , Philippines , Bangladesh and Malaysia . On a small scale , Turmeric IS ALSO grown in most tropical regions in America , the Pacific Islands and Africa . India is the Reviews largest review of consumer , exporter and producer of turmeric

Name of turmeric has been known since the Middle Ages with the Latin name of " terramerita " , the word " merite terre " of France , which has a meaning as the earth worthy or deserving of the earth , and called turmeric powder known in the trade . Ancient Indians have given many nicknames for turmeric each representing a particular quality as it has listed as follows .

Ranjani        : Denotes that which gives color
Mangal prada    : Bringing luck
Krimighmi    : Killing worms and antimicrobial
Mahaghni    : Indicates antidiabetic properties
Anestha        : Not offered for sacrifie or homa
Haridra        : Indicating that it is dear to Hari (Lord Krishna).
Varna-datri    : That gives Color, indicating its use as enhancer of body complexion.
Hemaragi    : Having golden Color
Bhadra        : Denotes auspicious or lucky.
Hridayavilasini    : Giving delight to heart and charming.
Shobhna        : Brilliant indicating the brilliant color.

In Sanskrit , turmeric has Approximately 55 synonyms religion relates WITH THE USE OR medicine . In English , turmeric root Also known as yellow and saffron India . the Name and species had given turmeric with Several languages ​at the table 1.1 .    

Herbalists have considered that turmeric as one of the greatest gifts of nature because it has used since long ago as a flavoring , coloring , food preservatives and cosmetics and in traditional systems of medicine ( Ayurveda , Unani , Tibetan and Sidha ) . In the past , turmeric and wild plants such as C. Aromatica ( Vanaharidra - Jungle turmeric ) , used for dyeing time , dye turmeric ( curcumin ) is using as a safe color well in spices, mustard , cereal products , potato flakes , pickles , ice cream , yogurt , soup , etc. Research has shown that curcumin is not toxic to humans even at a dose of 8000 mg / d taken continuously ( Cheng , 2001) . The use of turmeric and curcumin medicine is diverse , ranging from cosmetic face cream for prevention of Alzheimer's disease . Turmeric also qualifies as the queen hepatoprotective , anti-cancer , anti - inflammatory , and antimicrobial properties , in addition to its use in the gastrointestinal and cardiovascular disorders . 

Early references about turmeric had seen in the Atharvaveda (ca. 6000 yr B.P), where turmeric had prescribed charm himself jaundice. It was also used in the treatment of leprosy. Turmeric Reference has also been made in Yajnavalkyasamhita (consisting, ca. 4000 yr B.P) in the story of the epic Ramayana. Turmeric had listed as a plant dye in the Assyrian herbal dating about 2600 yr B.P. Marco polo, in 1280 AD, mentioned turmeric grown in areas Fokien China (Rosengarten, 1969). Evidence indicates that turmeric has cultivated in India from ancient times but whether turmeric which they are using is C. longa or some other species that have yellow rhizome root, is not known. Garcia de Orta (1563) had described name of Crocus indicus turmeric. Fluckiger and Hanbury (1879) wrote "several varieties of turmeric, state or county in which they were producing by someone who have experience, the character of any kind that is almost so marked or so constant had recognized by a verbal description alone." Linchosten (1956), when explain in detail the trade in Cochin which does not mention turmeric.  

Sopher (1964 ) states that "The use and distribution of turmeric in the country comes from outside India , especially in Moluccas, Celebes , and Polynesian show their past and shows the connection first culture among the people of these areas and farmers pre - Aryan indigenous India ... customary use of turmeric in a magical ritual intended to produce fertility later became an important part of Hindu ceremonies and the like brought to the kingdom of Hindu culture of Southeast Asia . "the use of turmeric by Betsiko Malagasy Republic shows that had introduced the Malayo- Polynesian ( Purseglove et al. , 1981) . Burkill West Africa in the 13th century ; used in the region only as a dye . It had introduced to jamaica by Edward in 1783 , where it has become naturalized ( Purseglove et al. , 1981) 

The origin of turmeric is still not discovered. Although some species of Curcuma have used a native of India, some of which may have used as Haridra (turmeric), there is little evidence has shown that C. longa is native to India. All authors had previously spoken that turmeric is only cultivated in India (eg, Roxburg, 1810; Watt, 1872). Ainslie (cited by Watt, 1872) says, "Curcuma longa grows wild in Cochin China, and there are so called as Kuong huynh. Loureiro gave us a long list of medicinal benefits of turmeric in Jaudice, leprosy and other disorders." Watt (1872) says, "Though there is a name Sanskrit for plant and the names of the majority of Chinese species, which may have superscribed some curcumas previous traditional use and which bear the names are now given to these plants, such as arrowroot plant is fast replacing the southern Indian species. "Darzell and Gibson (Watt, 1872) this plant was introducing to Bombay. Purseglove et al. (1981) states that turmeric domesticated in Southeast Asia, where it may have originated as a hybrid triploid. 

in all probability, turmeric (C. Longa) entered India from the ancient region Cochin china (today Vietnam) or China either through ancient tribal people's movement along their migration leads to the Northeastern region of India, or through Buddhist monks and tourists ancient India has achieved during the era of post-Buddhist. The ancients used saffron as a dye and a cure for many diseases. The travelers may have brought turmeric used as a cure for the two most common diseases that they typically experience abdominal pain and injuries. Gradually, turmeric became very popular in India and with each passing time displace indigenous species used turmeric. Maybe turmeric has been used to cook, food preservatives and then used to offer color to the dish. For such use, other species of Curcuma has a very bitter taste. Flavor, color and medicinal properties all have joined in C. longa, which in time gained through the magical associations. in the course of time, turmeric be connected with many traditions and myths in the following centuries. Sopher (1964) writes, "wild Curcuma domestica has attracted attention as an incidental source of food, but the important property which is the object of choice is aware of a yellowish color of turmeric. As a fast-growing tree with the fertility of the earth ... The attitude and practice expressing these ideas will be deployed together with the spread of humans from plants over a large area "

Turmeric As a Dye Plant

The yellow color of turmeric is due to a group of compounds known as curcuminoids, of which the most important one is curcumin. Earlier in India, turmeric had used as a dye. Many studies have been done on the properties of turmeric dyes by the British, with the intention of using it as a source of commercial dyes. Buck (cited by Watts, 1872) found that the dye given by turmeric is a dull yellow color, it is useless, and except in the ordinary fabric dyeing type, rarely used except in combination. Alkali action on turmeric turned red. Despite many attempts by European experts dyes, colors can not be granted permanent. For the production of color, rhizomes hard choice. dye that has been used mainly in cotton fabric dyeing and in calico printing. Alum is used for purif color and to destroy all the red. Dyers produced brilliat yellow Calcutta, known as Basanti rang by mixing turmeric with carbonate of soda and lemon or limejuice. Turmeric has been used to produce the green color in combination with indigo. The composition was first dyed with indigo and then dipped in a solution of turmeric. Turmeric is also used to sharpen or brighten the other colors, such as Singahar (Nyctanthes arbortristis), tone (Cedrela Toona), safflower (Carthamus tinctorius), Lac dye and Al (Morinda tinctoria).

The Indian calico printers used to provide dye by mixing turmeric with the skin of the pomegranate and alum . Turmeric has been used for dyeing furs and silk for the production of compound colors like olive and brown . With Mordants , turmeric Gives another color. If the fur was mordanted with aluminum or tin , more brilliant color , and with the latter becoming more orange . Mordants potassium dichromate and iron sulphate produces olive and brown , each - each . Curcumin form a complex with boric acid - borocurcumin - and from this complex , rosocyanin , the pigments can be Obtained .

Presently, turmeric is not used for any commercial colloring. However, both curcumin and turmeric are used widely for imparting yellow collor to a variety of food products.