HARIDRA (CURCUMA LONGA LINN.): AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW OF AYURVEDIC WISDOM AND MODERN PHARMACOLOGICAL EVIDENCE

Background: Haridra (Curcuma longa Linn.), a perennial rhizomatous herb belonging to the Zingiberaceae fam-ily, has been highly esteemed in Ayurvedic medicine as well as in culinary and religious practices. Recognised for its 'golden' hue and medicinal value, Haridra has been extensively described in classical Ayurvedic literature, such as the Samhitas and Nighantus, for conditions including Prameha (diabetes), Vrana (wounds), and as a blood purifier. Its principal bioactive compound, curcumin, has garnered significant scientific attention due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial effects. Objective: This review aims to comprehensively ana-lyze the traditional Ayurvedic references of Haridra and correlate them with contemporary pharmacological find-ings, thereby exploring its integrative therapeutic potential. Methods: This integrative review compiles and criti-cally analyzes information from classical Ayurvedic literature, including Samhitas, Nighantus, and Gana Varga classifications, and correlates these with findings from contemporary pharmacological research. Primary Ayur-vedic descriptions were gathered from classical texts, while modern data were sourced from peer-reviewed sci-entific studies, including phytochemical, pharmacological, and clinical investigations. Results: Haridra is classi-fied in Ayurveda as having Tikta-Katu Rasa, Ruksha Guna, Ushna Virya, and Katu Vipaka, with actions such as Kaphahara, Medoghna, Varnya, and Vrana Ropaka. Classical texts also associate it with the properties of Sho-dhana and Vishodhana. Modern research supports these traditional claims, reporting its efficacy in inflammatory disorders, metabolic syndromes, infections, and even certain cancers, primarily due to curcumin. Conclusion: This review highlights the convergence between ancient Ayurvedic knowledge and modern scientific evidence, reinforcing Haridra’s relevance in contemporary healthcare. The study also identifies specific areas, such as dos-age standardisation, bioavailability enhancement, and long-term clinical validation, where further interdiscipli-nary research is needed to optimise its therapeutic potential.