Curcuma caesia Roxb. - Update of phytochemicals and pharmacological properties

Curcuma caesia Roxb. commonly known as ‘black turmeric’ is an erect rhizomatous herb characterized by bluish‑black rhizomes and leaves with a deep red-violet midrib. It is a native of northeast and central India and also found in Java and Myanmar. The plant is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of several metabolic disorders, leukoderma, leprosy, rheumatic complaints, bronchial disorders, menstrual disorders, gastrointestinal problems, neurological disorders, cancer and diabetes. The rhizomes contain 1.3-7.14% anthocyanins which determine its bluish black hue. 1,8-cineole, camphor, ar-turmerone, linalool, ocimene, ar-curcumene, zingiberol, curzerenone and tropolone were reported as the major components of rhizome oil from different geographical locations. The leaf oil is dominated by 1,8-cineole, camphor and borneol. Furanodienone and curzerenone were identified as the marker compounds for determining the quality of rhizomes. The present review is an update of its phytochemical constituents and pharmacological properties.