**2. Phytoconstituents of turmeric**

Turmeric has been found to have over 100 constituents. Turmeric's primary root component is a volatile oil containing turmerone and additional colorants called curcuminoids. Turmeric's principal phytoconstituents are diarylheptanoids, which combine to form curcuminoids and account for approximately 16% of turmeric's dry weight [7]. The majority of crude turmeric extracts, as well as some refined

*Golden Spice Turmeric and Its Health Benefits DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.103821*

**Figure 1.**

*Venn diagram shows the taxonomical classification of* Curcuma longa.

"curcumin" materials (**Figure 3**), contain three major compounds: curcumin I (diferuloylmethane) at 94%, curcumin II (demethoxycurcumin) at 6%, and curcumin III (bisdemethoxycurcumin) at 3%, in addition to volatile oils, sugars, proteins, and resins [8]. Turmeric in its purest form comprises 5–6.6 percent curcumin, 0.5 percent extraneous matter, 3% mold, and 3.5 percent volatile oils. Turmerone, arturmerone, curcumene, germacrone, and ar-curcumene are examples of these compounds [9]. Volatile oils include d-α-phellandrene, d-sabinene, cinol, borneol, zingiberene, and sesquiterpenes [10]. Turmerone, arturmerone, and zingiberene are the active ingredients in turmeric that give it its flavor and aroma. Additionally, four novel polysaccharides, ukonans, stigmasterole, β-sitosterole, cholesterol, and 2-hydroxymethyl anthraquinone, were discovered in the rhizomes in recent investigations [11, 12].

According to the Indian Food Composition Table (2017), Turmeric Powder (*Curcuma domestica*) is a major source of macro and micronutrients. The **Table 2** shows that it is rich in fibers, vitamins, and minerals. Turmeric is also a good source of linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid [13].

According to several studies, curcumin is "generally recognised as safe" (GRAS) as a food additive up to a dose of 20 mg per serving, according to the FDA [14]. Together with turmeric's long history and cultural use as a medicine, this classification has contributed to its appeal as a dietary supplement marketed for a range of common ailments. Curcumin supplement sales were estimated to have exceeded \$20 million in the United States in 2014, but an exact figure is difficult to verify [15]. The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act legislation constructing the validity of dietary supplements in the United States (1994) and progressions in *in-vitro* testing almost certainly played a significant role in a dramatic increase in the publication of manuscripts describing the use of curcumin in biological studies in the late 1990s

#### **Figure 2.**

*Pictures of* Curcuma Longa *plant (A), flower (B), turmeric rhizomes (C) and rhizome powder (D) of turmeric (*Curcuma longa *L.). The images used in drawing the figure were extracted from the following links as described below: (A) https://www.amazon.in/Creative-Farmer-Turmeric-Medicinal-Ayurvedic/dp/B08P5S58V1, (B) https://ellegadodenewton.com/2020/06/10/es-la-curcuma-el-alimento-ayurveda-milagroso-el-caso-de-laactividad-biologica-de-la-curcuma/, (C) https://dimsaleglobal.com/product/fresh-tumeric/, and (D) https:// www.benessereblog.it/cose-il-latte-doro-e-come-si-prepara.*

(**Figure 4**). Curcumin has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, anticardiovascular, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antidiabetic, skin protective, radioprotective, wound healing, antigastrointesinal properties, antioxidant, immunomodulating, anticarcinogenic, and Alzheimer's [16].
