Curcumin is a a water soluble orange-yellow coloured powder. Curcumin is one of three curcuminoids of turmeric. The other two curcuminoids are demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin.

 

Curcumin has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antifungal actions. Studies have shown that curcumin is not toxic to humans. Curcumin exerts anti-inflammatory activity by inhibition of a number of different molecules that play an important role in inflammation. Turmeric is effective in reducing post-surgical inflammation. Turmeric helps to prevent atherosclerosis by reducing the formation of bloods clumps.