4.1.5 Curcuma Rhizome

4.1.5 Curcuma Rhizome

Curcuma rhizome (Rhizoma Curcumae) is the rhizome of ginger-family plants including turmeric rhizome, warm turmeric, and cinnamon turmeric. Its nature is warm, its taste pungent and bitter, and it enters the Liver and Spleen meridians. It promotes qi circulation and blood activation, eliminates accumulation and relieves pain, and breaks up stasis, among other functions. The volatile oils in curcuma rhizome are effective anti-tumor components, along with curcumin and other substances [95]. Modern research shows that curcuma oil can significantly inhibit the growth of HepG2 liver cancer cells in vitro by suppressing the expression of COX-2 and VEGF genes, thereby inducing their apoptosis [96–97]. The anti-tumor mechanisms of curcuma oil mainly include direct cytotoxicity, induction of tumor cell apoptosis, interference with cancer cell nucleic acid metabolism, and enhancement of the body’s immune response [98].