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

Scientists have often concluded that these coral reefs are therefore doomed — although a new study suggests that we could avoid coral being bleached into oblivion with a little help from curcumin.

From Salon • Jul. 21, 2023

Some commercial supplements are formulated with both curcumin and piperine.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 11, 2023

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

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