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botanical illustration of Turmeric, Curcuma longa

botanical record · discovered

Turmeric

Curcuma longa

Turmeric · Indian Saffron · Ango · Common Turmeric · Curcuma · Curcuma long, Safran, Curcuma, Curry, Safran des Indes, Safran pays · Curcuma longa · Curcuma, Safran des Indes, Safran calédonien, Safran des îles, Safran de montagne, Safran du pays, Faux safran, Safran · Dohâny, Pae-dohân · Doongany, Dohâny · Geelwortel · Gelbwurzel · Indian-saffron · Kari · Kari, Curry · Kunyit · Kurkuma · Lenga, Lenga melo

At a glance

Origin / distribution: Chinese, Java, China, Nepal, Malaya, Philippines

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Balsamic, Chickenpox, Cold, Colic

Science studied: ARABINOSE, ASCORBIC-ACID, ALPHA-ATLANTONE, GAMMA-ATLANTONE

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Zingiberaceae

Scientific name: Curcuma longa

Common names: Turmeric, Indian Saffron, Ango, Common Turmeric, Curcuma, Curcuma long, Safran, Curcuma, Curry, Safran des Indes, Safran pays, Curcuma longa, Curcuma, Safran des Indes, Safran calédonien, Safran des îles, Safran de montagne, Safran du pays, Faux safran, Safran, Dohâny, Pae-dohân, Doongany, Dohâny, Geelwortel, Gelbwurzel, Indian-saffron, Kari, Kari, Curry, Kunyit, Kurkuma, Lenga, Lenga melo

POWO: 796451-1 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in Chinese, Elsewhere, Java, China, Nepal, Malaya, Philippines.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

  • Balsamic
  • Chickenpox
  • Cold
  • Colic
  • Congestion
  • Conjunctivitis
  • Cosmetic
  • Dermatosis
show 30 more documented entries
  • Dysentery
  • Escharotic
  • Fumitory
  • Hepatosis
  • Jaundice
  • Lactagogue
  • Parturition
  • Pyuria
  • Smallpox
  • Sore
  • Stomachic
  • Tonic
  • Wound
  • Abscess
  • Bruise
  • Amenorrhea
  • Catarrh
  • Depurative
  • Gonorrhea
  • Scabies
  • Antibilious
  • Bite(Leech)
  • Cholagogue
  • Diarrhea
  • Gravel
  • Hemostat
  • Swelling
  • Urogenital
  • Diuretic
  • Vulnerary

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

  • Chinese
  • Elsewhere
  • Java
  • China
  • Nepal
  • Malaya
  • Philippines

Documented cultural uses

  • Balsamic
  • Chickenpox
  • Cold
  • Colic
  • Congestion
  • Conjunctivitis
  • Cosmetic
  • Dermatosis
  • Dysentery
  • Escharotic
  • Fumitory
  • Hepatosis
show 26 more documented entries
  • Jaundice
  • Lactagogue
  • Parturition
  • Pyuria
  • Smallpox
  • Sore
  • Stomachic
  • Tonic
  • Wound
  • Abscess
  • Bruise
  • Amenorrhea
  • Catarrh
  • Depurative
  • Gonorrhea
  • Scabies
  • Antibilious
  • Bite(Leech)
  • Cholagogue
  • Diarrhea
  • Gravel
  • Hemostat
  • Swelling
  • Urogenital
  • Diuretic
  • Vulnerary

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

  • Balsamic · Chinese · "
  • Chickenpox · Elsewhere · "
  • Cold · Java · "
  • Colic · China · "
  • Congestion · China · "
  • Conjunctivitis · Java · "
  • Cosmetic · Java · "
  • Dermatosis · Nepal · "
  • Dysentery · Malaya · "
  • Escharotic · Elsewhere · "
  • Fumitory · Elsewhere · "
  • Hepatosis · Malaya · "
  • Jaundice · Java · "
  • Lactagogue · Java · "
  • Parturition · Java · "
  • Pyuria · Java · "
  • Smallpox · Elsewhere · "
  • Sore · Malaya · "
  • Stomachic · China · "
  • Tonic · Malaya · "
  • Wound · Java · "
  • Abscess · Java · "
  • Bruise · Elsewhere · "
  • Amenorrhea · Malaya · "

18 additional documented entries remain in the source record.

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

  • Curcumin (Curcuma longa): Applications in Clinical, Regenerative, and Aesthetic Dermatology · 2026 source ↗
  • Transforming Curcuma longa leaf waste into cellulose scaffolds. · 2026 source ↗
  • Concise ethnobotanical review and botanical pharmacognosy of turmeric rhizome (<i>Curcuma longa</i> L.). · 2026 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

  • ARABINOSE
  • ASCORBIC-ACID
  • ALPHA-ATLANTONE
  • GAMMA-ATLANTONE
  • 2-BORNANOL
  • CALCIUM
  • D-CAMPHOR
  • CAPRYLIC-ACID
  • CARBOHYDRATES
  • CINNAMIC-ACID
  • COBALT
  • COPPER
  • CUMINYL-ALCOHOL
  • L-BETA-CURCUMENE
  • CURCUMENOL
  • P-CYMENE
show 161 more documented entries
  • DEHYDROTURMERONE
  • EUGENOL
  • FAT
  • IRON
  • ISOBORNEOL
  • P-METHOXY-CINNAMIC-ACID
  • MONODESMETHOXYCURCUMIN
  • D-ALPHA-PHELLANDRENE
  • ALPHA-PINENE
  • BETA-PINENE
  • POTASSIUM
  • RESIN
  • RIBOFLAVIN
  • TERPINEOL
  • ALPHA-TERPINEOL
  • P-TOLYL-METHYLCARBINOL
  • TURMERONE
  • CURDIONE
  • CYCLO-ISOPRENEMYRCENE
  • DIDESMETHOXYCURCUMIN
  • ZINC
  • ASH
  • AZULENE
  • D-CAMPHENE
  • BETA-CAROTENE
  • 1,8-CINEOLE
  • CURCUMENE
  • DICINNAMOYLMETHANE
  • FIBER
  • FRUCTOSE
  • MANGANESE
  • NIACIN
  • PHOSPHORUS
  • PROTEIN
  • THIAMIN
  • CHROMIUM
  • L-ALPHA-CURCUMENE
  • GLUCOSE
  • NICKEL
  • TERPINENE
  • WATER
  • CURZERENONE-C
  • DESMETHOXYCURCUMIN
  • D-SABINENE
  • BORON
  • BIS-DESMETHOXYCURCUMIN
  • SODIUM
  • ZINGIBERENE
  • CURCUMINOIDS
  • CYCLOCURCUMIN
  • GERMACRENE
  • GUAIANE
  • SALICYLATES
  • TURMERIN
  • 2-HYDROXY-METHYL-ANTHRAQUINONE
  • 4-HYDROXY-BISABOLA-2,10-DIEN-9-ONE
  • 5-HYDROXY-4-METHOXY-BISABOLA-2,10-DIEN-9-ONE
  • BISABOLA-3,10-DIEN-2-ONE
  • 2,5-DIHYDROXY-BISABOLA-3,10-DIENE
  • BISABOLENE
  • BETA-BISABOLENE
  • BISACUMOL
  • BISACURONE
  • CAFFEIC-ACID
  • CAMPESTEROL
  • CHOLESTEROL
  • CINEOL
  • 4-HYDROXY-CINNAMOYL-(FERULOYL)-METHANE
  • O-COUMARIC-ACID
  • P-COUMARIC-ACID
  • ALPHA-CURCUMENE
  • CURCUMENONE
  • CURCUMIN
  • 5'-METHOXY-CURCUMIN
  • BIS-DEMETHOXYCURCUMIN
  • DEMETHOXYCURCUMIN
  • MONODEMETHOXYCURCUMIN
  • DEHYDROCURDIONE
  • CURLONE
  • CURZERENONE
  • EO
  • SATURATED-FATTY-ACIDS
  • UNSATURATED-FATTY-ACIDS
  • GERMACRON-(4S',5S)-EPOXIDE
  • GERMACRON-13-AL
  • GERMACRONE
  • 4(S)-5(S)-EPOXY-GERMACRONE
  • GUAIACOL
  • 1,7-BIS-(4-HYDROXY-PHENYL)-HEPTA-1,4,6-TRIENE-3-ONE
  • 1-(4-HYDROXY-3-METHOXY-PHENYL)-7-(3,4-DIHYDROXY-PHENYL)-HEPTA-1,6-DIENE-3,5-DIONE
  • 4-HYDROXY-CINNAMOYL-METHANE
  • 4-HYDROXY-FERULOXYL-METHANE
  • BIS-(4-HYDROXY-CINNAMOYL)-METHANE
  • BIS-(P-HYDROXY-CINNAMOYL)-METHANE
  • DIFERULOYL-METHANE
  • DI-P-COUMAROYL-METHANE
  • FERULOYL-P-COUMAROYL-METHANE
  • 1-(4-HYDROXY-3-METHOXY-PHENYL)-5-(4-HYDROXY-PHENYL)-PENTA-TRANS-1-TRANS-4-DIEN-3-ONE
  • 1,5-BIS-(4-HYDROXY-3-METHOXY-PHENYL)-PENTA-TRANS-1-TRANS-4-DIEN-3-ONE
  • (+)-ALPHA-PHELLANDRENE
  • PROCURCUMENOL
  • 5-HYDROXY-PROCURCUMENOL
  • EPI-PROCURCUMENOL
  • ISOPROCURCUMENOL
  • PROTOCATECHUIC-ACID
  • (+)-SABINENE
  • BETA-SESQUIPHELLANDRENE
  • BETA-SITOSTEROL
  • STIGMASTEROL
  • SYRINGIC-ACID
  • TOLYL-METHYLCARBINOL
  • (+)-AR-TURMERONE
  • ALPHA-TURMERONE
  • AR-TURMERONE
  • (+)-(S)-AR-TURMERONE
  • TURMERONOL-A
  • TURMERONOL-B
  • BETA-TURMERONE
  • UKONAN-A
  • UKONAN-B
  • UKONAN-C
  • UKONAN-D
  • VANILLIC-ACID
  • ZEDOARONDIOL
  • CAR-3-ENE
  • P-COUMAROYL-FERULOYL-METHANE
  • FERULOYL-4-HYDROXYCINNAMOYL-METHANE
  • ALPHA-PHELLANDRENE
  • PHYTOSTEROLS
  • SODIUM-CURCUMATE
  • ALPHA-TERPINENE
  • GAMMA-TERPINENE
  • TERPINOLENE
  • TETRAHYDROCURCUMIN
  • TRIETHYLCURCUMIN
  • DIHYDROCURCUMIN
  • BORNEOL
  • CAMPHENE
  • CAMPHOR
  • CARYOPHYLLENE
  • LIMONENE
  • LINALOOL
  • FIBER(CRUDE)
  • FIBER(DIETARY)
  • MAGNESIUM
  • SELENIUM
  • SILICON
  • SUGARS
  • THIAMINE
  • CINEOLE
  • CURCUMOL
  • STARCH
  • 1,7-BIS-(4-HYDROXYPHENYL)-1-HEPTENE-3,5-DIONE
  • 1,7-BIS-(4-HYDROXY-3-METHOXYPHENYL)-1,4,6-HEPTATRIEN-3-ONE
  • 1,5-BIS-(4-HYDROXY-3-METHOXYPHENYL)-1,4-PENTADIEN-3-ONE
  • CALEBIN-A
  • FLAVONOIDS
  • 1-HYDROXY-1,7-BIS-(4-HYDROXY-3-METHOXYPHENYL)-6-HEPTENE-3,5-DIONE
  • 4''-(3''-METHOXY-4''-HYDROXYPHENYL)-2''-OXO-3''-ENEBUTANYL-3-(3'-METHOXY-4'-HYDROXYPHENYL)-PROPENOATE
  • ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL
  • QUERCETIN

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Curcuma longa
Curcuma longa · Simon A. Eugster

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

show claim source mapping
  • identity · DH-SRC-0030
  • documented_uses · DH-SRC-0030
  • compounds · DH-SRC-0030
  • taxonomy · DH-SRC-GBIF · source ↗
  • common_names · DH-SRC-GBIF · source ↗
  • countries · DH-SRC-GBIF · source ↗
  • wfo_taxonomy · DH-SRC-0003 · source ↗
  • cultural_records · DH-SRC-0030 · source ↗
  • powo_taxonomy · DH-SRC-0001 · source ↗
  • wcvp_taxonomy · DH-SRC-0002 · source ↗

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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