Role of curcumin and its analogues in various diseases

Curcumin is a bright yellow chemical produced by Curcuma longa plants. It is the principal curcuminoid of turmeric (Curcuma longa) a member of the ginger family Zingiberaceae. It is sold as an herbal supplement cosmetics ingredient food flavoring and food coloring. Chemically curcumin is a diarylheptanoid belonging to the group of curcuminoids which are natural phenols responsible for turmeric's yellow color. It is a tautomeric compound existing in enolic form in organic solvents and in keto form in water turmeric is a spice that has received much interest from both the medical/scientific worlds as well as from the culinary world. Turmeric is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant (Curcuma longa) of the ginger family.The medicinal properties of turmeric the source of curcumin have been known for thousands of years; however the ability to determine the exact mechanism(s)of action and to determine the bioactive components has recently been investigated.