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Review Papers | Business Administration | Volume 15 Issue 2, February 2026 | Pages: 685 - 691 | India
The Origin and Identification of Turmeric as Antiseptic Agent in Ancient India
Abstract: Turmeric (Curcuma longa), revered in ancient Indian traditions as a versatile spice, dye, and antiseptic agent, has been integral part of Ayurveda, Siddha, and folk medicine for over 4,000 years, primarily for wound healing, infection prevention, and anti-inflammatory applications. It is also known as ?India Saffron? that has been well identified as Ginger family Zingiberaceae which is perennial and rhizomatous, herbaceous plant grown more in India and Southeast Asia. It requires temparatures between 20 to 300C with high annual rainfall to thrive. The aim and objective of this article is to explore historical evolution from Vedic texts like the Atharva Veda, Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita to modern scientific validation, highlighting its role in religious, rituals, household kitchens, and rural healthcare amid biodiversity hotspots in India and also to provide an overview of potential health benefits of Curucumin. It examines biopiracy challenges, exemplified by the revoked US Patent 5,401,504 in 1997 through CSIR's prior art evidence from ancient Sanskrit and Hindi sources, leading to the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) for defensive Intellectual Property protection. Key bioactive compound curcumin strengthen turmeric's antimicrobial, anticancer, and detoxifying properties, bridging traditional oral knowledge with contemporary research on drug resistance and nano formulations. While global dissemination via trade enriched Unani and Southeast Asian systems, ongoing issues like oral tradition vulnerability and synthetic patents underscore needs for equitable benefit-sharing. This synthesis affirms turmeric's enduring legacy as a safe, natural therapeutic, urging further clinical trials to harness its potential against modern ailments.
Keywords: Curucumin, Traditional Knowledge Digital Library, Intellectual Property Rights, Traditional Medicine, Ayurveda, Sushruta Samhita
How to Cite?: C. L. Avadhani, "The Origin and Identification of Turmeric as Antiseptic Agent in Ancient India", Volume 15 Issue 2, February 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 685-691, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26210123537, DOI: https://dx.dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26210123537