curcumin

American  

[kur-kyoo-min] / ˈkɜr kyʊ mɪn /

noun

1. the compound C 21 H 20 O 6 , a major active ingredient in turmeric and thought to have antioxidant and anticancer properties.

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curcumin British  

/ ˈkɜːkjʊmɪn /

noun

1. a yellow pigment, derived from the rhizome of Curcuma longa , and the main active ingrediant of turmeric. It is an antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory properties

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Etymology

Origin of curcumin

1850–60; < curcum(a) + New Latin -ina -in ²

Example Sentences

Plant-based supplements containing quercetin, curcumin, and piperine improved fatigue compared with placebo.

From Science Daily • Jan. 8, 2026

High-throughput functional assays were validated using two classic atherosclerosis drugs, rosuvastatin and sirolimus, and were used to evaluate two drug candidates, curcumin and colchicine, and a potential gene therapy candidate, microRNA-146a-loaded liposomes, for treating atherosclerosis.

From Science Daily • Jan. 13, 2024

Would it be wise to delete the ibuprofen, add curcumin and make any necessary adjustments in my warfarin dosage to maintain my INR levels?

From Seattle Times • Sep. 27, 2023

After 12 weeks, they found that the mice given curcumin had similar improvements in brain function and lower levels of inflammation in their liver as the mice who had been on a weight loss diet.

From Salon • May 23, 2023

The rhizomes contain a pigment called curcumin, an essential oil and fæcula.

From The Medicinal Plants of the Philippines by Thomas, Jerome Beers