Abstracto

Turmeric, Curcumin and Ayurvedic Medicine Research

Ashok Kumar Grover

A summary of studies on the efficacy of curcumin against osteoarthritis is presented as an example so as to provoke a dialog on the desired direction of Ayurvedic medicine research. Turmeric, the powder of dried rhizome of Curcuma longa, has been used in Ayurvedic medicine and is a household spice today. It contains over twenty potentially active compounds - one of which is curcumin [1]. It was first extracted from turmeric about 200 years ago [2]. In vitro and clinical studies have focused on the potential role of this compound for management of osteoarthritis and other chronic inflammatory diseases for which there is no known cure.