Chemicals and Drugs

Curcumin

A yellow-orange dye obtained from tumeric, the powdered root of CURCUMA longa. It is used in the preparation of curcuma paper and the detection of boron. Curcumin appears to possess a spectrum of pharmacological properties, due primarily to its inhibitory effects on metabolic enzymes.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A yellow-orange dye obtained from tumeric, the powdered root of CURCUMA longa. It is used in the preparation of curcuma paper and the detection of boron. Curcumin appears to possess a spectrum of pharmacological properties, due primarily to its inhibitory effects on metabolic enzymes.

Chemical Identity

Chemical Information

Molecular Formula
C21H20O6
Molecular Weight
368.4 g/mol
CAS Registry No.
458-37-7
IUPAC Name
(1E,6E)-1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)hepta-1,6-diene-3,5-dione
InChIKey
VFLDPWHFBUODDF-FCXRPNKRSA-N
SMILES
COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)/C=C/C(=O)CC(=O)/C=C/C2=CC(=C(C=C2)O)OC)O
MeSH Unique ID
D003474
Source
PubChem CID 969516

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

Knowledge Graph

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Drug Class

Pharmacological Action

MeSH Record

Synonyms

7 entry terms
  • 1,6-Heptadiene-3,5-dione, 1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-, (E,E)-
  • Curcumin Phytosome
  • Diferuloylmethane
  • Turmeric Yellow
  • Phytosome, Curcumin
  • Yellow, Turmeric
  • Mervia

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

19 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, analogs & derivatives, analysis, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, economics, history, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

entry term TURMERIC YELLOW: TUMERIC see CURCUMA is also available

MeSH Record

History Note

91(75); was see under CATECHOLS 1975-90

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Alkadienes (1974)
  • Catechols (1966-1974)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. D02w.455w.326.146w.485.222w.222w
  2. D02w.455w.426w.559w.389.657w.166.200w
  3. D02w.455w.426w.559w.695w.222w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Curcumin. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D003474. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D003474
  2. Curcumin. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curcumin
  3. Curcumin. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q312266
  4. Curcumin. In: PubChem Compound. CID 969516. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/969516