Editing Turmeric (section)

{{short description|Plant used as spice }}
{{About|the plant and rhizome used as a spice||}}
{{redirect|Haridra|the river in India|Haridra River}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{speciesbox
| image = Turmeric inflorescence.jpg
| image_caption = [[Inflorescence]] of ''Curcuma longa''
| image2 = Curcuma longa roots.jpg
| image2_caption = Turmeric rhizome and powder
| image2_alt = Photograph of knobby brown rhizome and orange powder
| genus = Curcuma
| species = longa
| authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]<ref name="Kew">{{cite POWO|title=''Curcuma longa'' L.|id=796451-1 |access-date=26 March 2018}}</ref>
| synonyms = ''Curcuma domestica'' <small>Valeton</small>
}}

'''Turmeric''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|ɜːr|m|ər|ɪ|k|,_|ˈ|tj|uː|-}}),<ref>{{cite Dictionary.com|turmeric}}</ref><ref name="merriam-webster">{{cite Merriam-Webster|turmeric}}</ref> or '''''Curcuma longa''''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|ɜːr|k|j|ʊ|m|ə|_|ˈ|l|ɒ|ŋ|ɡ|ə}}),<ref>{{Dictionary.com|curcuma}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|longa}}</ref> is a [[flowering plant]] in the [[ginger]] family [[Zingiberaceae]]. It is a [[perennial]], [[rhizomatous]], [[herbaceous plant]] native to the [[Indian subcontinent]] and [[Southeast Asia]] that requires temperatures between {{cvt|20|and|30|C}} and high [[Annual rainfall in india|annual rainfall]] to thrive. Plants are gathered each year for their [[rhizome]]s, some for propagation in the following season and some for consumption or [[dye]]ing.<ref name="pubchem">{{pubchem|969516|Curcumin}}</ref>

The rhizomes can be used fresh, but they are often boiled in water and dried, after which they are ground into a deep orange-yellow shelf-stable spice powder commonly used as a [[food coloring#Natural food dyes|coloring]] and flavoring agent in many [[Asian cuisine]]s, especially for [[Curry|curries]] ([[curry powder]]). Turmeric powder has a warm, bitter, [[black pepper]]-like flavor and earthy, [[mustard plant|mustard]]-like [[aroma]].<ref name="drugs">{{cite web |date=6 May 2025 |title=Turmeric |url=https://www.drugs.com/npc/turmeric.html |access-date=16 May 2025 |publisher=[[Drugs.com]]}}</ref>

Although long used in [[Ayurvedic medicine]], there is no [[evidence-based medicine|high-quality clinical evidence]] that consuming turmeric or the principal turmeric constituent, [[curcumin]], is effective for treating any disease.<ref name="nelson">{{cite journal |last1=Nelson |first1=KM |last2=Dahlin |first2=JL |last3=Bisson |first3=J |last4=Graham |first4=J |last5=Pauli |first5=GF |last6=Walters |first6=MA |display-authors=3 |year=2017 |title=The Essential Medicinal Chemistry of Curcumin: Miniperspective |journal=Journal of Medicinal Chemistry |volume=60 |issue=5 |pages=1620–1637 |doi=10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b00975 |pmc=5346970 |pmid=28074653 |quote=None of these studies [has] yet led to the approval of curcumin, curcuminoids, or turmeric as a therapeutic for any disease}}</ref><ref name="nccih">{{cite web |date=May 2020 |title=Turmeric |url=https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/turmeric |access-date=25 November 2020 |publisher=[[National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health]], US National Institutes of Health}}</ref> Curcumin, a bright yellow chemical produced by the turmeric plant, is approved as a [[food additive]] by the [[World Health Organization]], [[European Parliament]], and United States [[Food and Drug Administration]].<ref name="pubchem" /> Turmeric [[Dietary supplement|supplements]] have been an increasing cause of [[herb-induced liver injury]], leading to government regulation.<ref name="hepa" />

[[File:Curcuma longa - Köhler–s Medizinal-Pflanzen-199.jpg|thumb|Botanical view of ''Curcuma longa'']]