Süstemaatiline kuuluvus (APG IV)
Riik: Taimed (Plantae)
Klaad: Soontaimed (Tracheophyta)
Klaad: Katteseemnetaimed (Angiospermae)
Klaad: Üheidulehelised (Monocotyledon)
Selts: Ingverilaadsed (Zingiberales)
Sugukond: Ingverilised (Zingiberaceae)
Perekond: Kollajuur (Curcuma)
Liik: Harilik kollajuur - Curcuma longa L.

Botaaniline kirjeldus
Harilik kollajuur on mitmeaastane troopiline rohttaim ingveriliste sugukonnast, perekonnast kollajuur. Taim võib kasvada 0,5 kuni 1 (2,5) meetri kõrguseks. Lehed on suured, laiad ja süstja kujuga. [1] 

Juurestikul on keerukas kuju. Risoomi värvus on kollakashall kuni kollakasoranž ja meenutab ingveri risoomi. Vili on kupar. Droogina kasutatakse kurkumajuurikat, mida kogutakse 7-9 kuud pärast istutamist. Droogi sorteeritakse juurika kuju järgi, ümardunud primaarrisoom ja pikergune primaarrisoom. [2]

Levila
Harilikku kollajuurt kasvatatkse Indias, Sri Lankas, Lõuna-Hiinas, Indoneesias, Jaapanis, Filipiinidel, Madagaskaris ja Taga-Kaukaasias.

Toime ja kasutamine
Kurkumiini leidub rohkelt hariliku kollajuure risoomis. Uuringute kohaselt levib kurkumiin inimorganismis hulgaliselt farmakoloogilise toimena. Ravimine kasutatakse kurkumiini hingamisteede allergiliste ja põletikuliste seisundite korral, aga ka maksa haiguslike seisundite korral, anoreksia ja reumatismi korral ning haavade paranemise kiirendamiseks. Kurkumiinil on mitut tüüpi vähirakkude, näiteks rinna, kopsu, naha ja maovähi rakkude paljunemist pärssiv toime. [1]

Kurkumiinil on kliiniliste uuringute kohaselt ravitoime soole-, kõhunäärme-, eesnäärme-, kopsu-, pea ja rinnanäärme ning kaelavähi korral. Ka mitmete põletikuliste soolehaiguste korral, nagu Chroni tõbi, haavandiline koliit ja ärritunud soole sündroom. Veel on toimeid reumatoidartriidi, osteoartriidi, maohaavandite, diabeedi ja paljude teiste haiguslike seisundite korral. Rahvameditsiinis on kasutusel kui immuunsüsteemi tugevdaja ja veresuhkru alandaja. Kurkumiin aitab kehal seedida valke ja rasvu. [2]

Kurkumiini toodetakse ka sünteetiliselt toidulisaainena. Toiduvärvainena on selle tähis E100. [3] Vastunäidustatud inimestele, kes tarvitavad verd vedeldavaid ravimeid, kuna kurkumiinil on samuti verd vedeldav toime. Samuti maohaavandite korral. [2]

Kasutatud allikad
1. Raal, A. (2010). Maailma ravimtaimede entsüklopeedia. Tallinn: Eesti Entsüklopeediakirjastus. 
2. Subash C. Gupta, Sridevi Patchva ja Bharat B. Aggarwal, Therapeutic Roles of Curcumin: Lessons Learned from Clinical Trials, AAPS J. jaanuar 2013; 15(1): 195–218, doi: 10.1208/s12248-012-9432-8 PMCID: PMC3535097, 
3. E. Järvoja. Välismaised värvained. - Renovatum anno 1991

Classification (APG IV)
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commenilids
Order: Zingiberales
Family: Zingiberaceae
Genus: Curcuma
Species: Tumeric - Curcuma longa L.

Botanical Description
Turmeric is a perennial tropical herbaceous plant from the Zingiberaceae family, and to the Curcuma genus. The plant can grow between 0.5 and 1 (up to 2.5) meters in height. Its leaves are large, broad, and lanceolate in shape. [1]

The root system has a complex structure. The rhizome is yellowish-gray to yellow-orange in color and resembles ginger rhizomes. The fruit is a capsule. The medicinal part of the plant is the turmeric root, which is harvested 7–9 months after planting. The harvested material is sorted based on rhizome shape: rounded primary rhizomes and elongated primary rhizomes. [2]

Distribution
Turmeric is cultivated in India, Sri Lanka, Southern China, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, Madagascar, and Transcaucasia.

Effects and Usage
Curcumin is abundant in the rhizomes of turmeric. According to research, curcumin exerts various pharmacological effects in the human body. It is used to treat allergic and inflammatory conditions of the respiratory tract, liver disorders, anorexia, rheumatism, and to accelerate wound healing. Curcumin has been found to inhibit the proliferation of several types of cancer cells, including breast, lung, skin, and gastric cancer cells. [1]

Clinical studies suggest that curcumin has therapeutic effects in colorectal, pancreatic, prostate, lung, head and neck, and breast cancer, as well as in various inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome. Additionally, curcumin has shown effects against rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gastric ulcers, diabetes, and several other medical conditions. In folk medicine, turmeric is used as an immune system booster and blood sugar regulator. Curcumin also aids in the digestion of proteins and fats. [2]

Curcumin is also synthetically produced as a food additive. As a food colorant, it is labeled E100. [3] It is contraindicated for individuals taking blood-thinning medications, as curcumin also has anticoagulant properties. It should also be avoided in cases of gastric ulcers. [2]

References
1. Raal, A. (2010). Maailma ravimtaimede entsüklopeedia. Tallinn: Eesti Entsüklopeediakirjastus.
2. Subash C. Gupta, Sridevi Patchva, and Bharat B. Aggarwal, Therapeutic Roles of Curcumin: Lessons Learned from Clinical Trials, AAPS J. January 2013; 15(1): 195–218, doi: 10.1208/s12248-012-9432-8 PMCID: PMC3535097.
3. E. Järvoja. Välismaised värvained. - Renovatum anno 1991.