Name - हरिद्रा
Botanical name - Curcuma longa
Description - Herb with large ovoid rootstock, sessile tubers thick, cylindric, bright yellow inside; petiole 60 cm long, leaves green, 30-45 cm by 10-20 cm; peduncle 15 cm or more long, hidden by sheathing petiole, spikes 10-15 cm, about 5 cm in diameter; brads pale green, ovate, about 3.7 cm long, those of the coma pale pink; flowers yellowish long as the bracts.
Chemical Constituents- It contains alkaloid curcumin and essential oil. Choleretic action of the essential oil is attributed to p-tolymethyl carbmol. Dye stuff acts as a cholagogue causing the contraction of gall bladder. The antioxidant properties of turmeric are due to phenolic character of curmin. Rhizome contains essential oil, colouring matter curcumin, neutral polysaccharide Ukonan D.
Use - Rhizome is the source of Turmeric. Used as a stimulant, tonic, stomachic and depurative. Used in combinations for sprains and bruises. Essential oil from rhizome used as a carminative, stomachic and tonic. ---- It is used in diabetes, to treat skin disorders, as a face application, in food articles, as a medicine for cancer, eczema, liver disorders, cough, cold asthama, hair remover, and in colouring.