Antiarthritic effects of turmeric and curcumin: A revisit

The rhizome of Curcuma longa Linn [family: Zingiberaceae], commonly known as turmeric, is one of the regularly used spices, especially on the Indian subcontinent, and it is popularly known as the curry spice. In addition to its dietary use, turmeric also has a long history of medicinal use in the various traditional and folk systems of medicine and is used to treat burns, wounds, gastrointestinal ailments, heart conditions, arthritis, and inflammatory conditions. Studies carried out in the past have validated many of the ethnomedicinal observations and results indicate that the validated properties are mediated predominately by the principal bioactive polyphenol, curcumin. Preclinical and clinical studies have also shown curcumin to possess myriad benefits, like the turmeric included in arthritic diseases. The current review compiles the validated observations and also addresses the mechanism responsible for the beneficial effects.