CURCUMINOID CONTENT IN CURCUMA SPP.: AN OVERVIEW

Abstract

Turmeric is the common name used for dried rhizome of Curcuma longa L., a monocotyledonous plant belonging to the family Zingiberaceae. Curcumin is responsible for the biological actions of turmeric and comprises of curcumin, demethoxy curcumin and bis demethoxy curcumin. Generally, the commercially produced curcumin is a mixture of the above with curcumin as the main constituent. Turmeric powder, curcumin and its derivatives and many other extracts from the rhizome were found to be bioactive. Studies on the extent of variation in content and quality characters of turmeric are important for selection of genotype with higher yield and better quality. This paper gives the comprehensive description about the work done in the field of evaluation, selection and characterization of turmeric genotypes.