**3. Turmeric containing curcumin as potential phytoconstituent**

*Curcuma longa*, as turmeric is one of the perennial herbs and classified under the family Zingiberaceae. This is cultivated majorly in India and China. Yellow powder of the rhizome from the plant is considered for many of the medicinal purpose. Dried form of *Curcuma longa* that is turmeric used as an ingredient in many of the food preparations. It is known by many other names such as Indian saffron Curcum in the, Arab region, Jianghuang (yellow ginger in Chinese), Haridra (Sanskrit, Ayurvedic), Kyoo or Ukon (Japanese) [27].

#### *Antioxidant Potential of Phytoconstituents with Special Emphasis on Curcumin DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.103982*

Powder of Turmeric is applicable as flavoring and coloring agent in various food preparations. For maintaining oral hygiene, it has been in use from many years [28]. In India and China, turmeric is considered as the choice of treatment for jaundice and other liver problems. This is one of the potential herbs having different pharmacological potentials including anti-protozoal, anti-venom activities, antioxidant, anti-microbial, anti-angiogenic, anti-malarial, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, anti-tumor and anti-aging properties [29–40]. It has also been used to treat parasitic infections, ulcers, skin disorders, immunity related disorders and curing the symptoms of colds and flus [41]. Curcumin (CUR) and two related compounds demethoxy curcumin (DMC) and bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) are considered as important curcuminoids responsible for the pharmacological action of turmeric. The active constituents of present are considered as a mixture of bisdesmethoxycurcumin, curcumin (diferuloylmethane), monodexmethoxycurcumin. Around 90% of curcuminoids are present in turmeric. Apart from this it also consists of proteins, sugars, and resins 0.3–5.4% of curcumin is found to be present in the raw turmeric [42].

Turmeric is containing a mixture of three curcuminoids: curcumin (diferuloylmethane), demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin, along with that volatile oil containing atlantone, zingiberone and tumerone, proteins resins and sugars. Lipophilic polyphenol that is Curcumin is nearly insoluble in water but is found to be stable in the acidic pH of the stomach [43].

Curcumin is containing phenolic groups due to which it can eliminate free radicals derived from oxygen.

The free radicals such as hydroxyl radical, singlet oxygen, superoxide radical, nitrogen dioxide and NO which can be eliminated by curcumin [44].

Curcumin and its derivatives has the most potential biological effects disease prevention and health promotion including inflammatory, antioxidant and anticancer potential [45].

#### **3.1 Anti-inflammatory properties**

Curcumin activity for inflammation after giving oral administration was comparable to that of cortisone or phenylbutazone. *Curcuma longa* after this treatment has potentially reduced inflammatory swelling. This effect can be resulted due to its potential of inhibiting biosynthesis of inflammatory prostaglandins from arachidonic acid and neutrophil function during inflammatory states [46, 47].

#### **3.2 Hepatoprotective activity**

Turmeric is having hepatoprotective activity similar to that of silymarin. From studies, it can be concluded that turmeric has hepatoprotective potential in various including carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), acetaminophen (paracetamol) and galactosamine. This hepatoprotective effect is mainly a observed due to the antioxidant activity of turmeric along with its ability to decrease the formation of proinflammatory cytokines. Administration of curcumin is resulted in decrease of liver injury [48–50].

#### **3.3 Anticarcinogenic properties**

All three stages of this carcinogenesis-initiation, promotion, and progression are inhibited by curcumin.

During initiation and promotion, curcumin modulates transcription factors controlling phase I and II detoxification of carcinogens; down-regulates proinflammatory cytokines, free radical-activated transcription factors, and arachidonic acid metabolism vicyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways and scavenges free radicals [51, 52].
