Asian Plant Research Journal

Turmeric: Bridging Traditional Medicine and Contemporary Evidence in Therapeutic Applications

Adewale Adetutu — 2026-10-28

Turmeric, the dried rhizome of Curcuma longa L., occupies an unusual position in therapeutic research. It has been used for centuries in Ayurveda and other Asian medical traditions, and it is now among the most intensively investigated botanicals in biomedical science, yet the translation from traditional practice to clinically dependable therapy remains uncertain. This critical narrative review examines how faithfully contemporary research has tested traditional uses of turmeric, how pharmacokinetic and mechanistic evidence shapes the interpretation of clinical findings, and where the balance of benefit and risk currently lies. Literature was identified through structured searches of open bibliographic and biomedical databases, a clinical trial registry, a regional scholarly index and authoritative institutional sources, supplemented by citation tracking, and was appraised qualitatively for design, test-article characterisation, exposure measurement, consistency and integrity. The synthesis indicates that most clinical trials have evaluated purified curcuminoid extracts or bioavailability-enhanced formulations rather than the whole-rhizome and food-matrix preparations described in traditional sources, so that clinical evidence speaks more directly to modern products than to traditional practice. The evidence is strongest for modest short-term relief of osteoarthritis pain, and an active-comparator trial supports benefit in functional dyspepsia, the indication closest to accepted traditional use. Findings for ulcerative colitis, glycaemic and lipid markers, depressive symptoms and hepatic enzymes are encouraging but rest on small, heterogeneous and geographically concentrated trials with low certainty, whereas trials in cognition and oncology remain inconsistent. Mechanistic interpretation is complicated by very low systemic concentrations of unconjugated curcumin, assay interference and chemical instability. Concentrated and bioavailability-enhanced products have been associated with idiosyncratic liver injury in which genetic susceptibility appears to play a part, while adulteration with lead chromate in parts of South Asia and variable product quality pose further substantive concerns. Bridging traditional knowledge and contemporary evidence therefore requires chemically characterised test articles, pharmacokinetically informed dosing, clinically meaningful endpoints, adequately powered trials in diverse populations and integrated pharmacovigilance. Turmeric is best regarded as a source of plausible but incompletely substantiated therapeutic hypotheses rather than as a validated remedy.

Influence of Inorganic Fertiliser Rates on Growth and Yield of Tiger Nut (Cyperus esculentus L.) in Two Agro-Ecological Zones

F. A. Bidmos — 2026-10-23

Tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus L.) is an underutilised crop with significant economic potential, yet optimal fertiliser requirements for agronomic performance remain poorly defined across different agro-ecological zones. This study evaluated the influence of inorganic fertiliser rates on the growth and yield of tiger nut in two agro-ecological zones in Nigeria. Field experiments were conducted at Igboora and Ogbomoso using a randomised complete block design with three replications. Treatments comprised urea at 0, 30, 45, 60, and 75 kg N/ha; single superphosphate at 0, 30, 45, 60, and 75 kg P₂O₅/ha; and muriate of potash at 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 kg K₂O/ha. Data on plant height, leaf number and tiller production were collected fortnightly, while tuber characteristics were assessed at harvest. The data were subjected to analysis of variance, with means separated using Duncan’s multiple range test at p ≤ 0.05. Fertiliser rates affected several growth and tuber characteristics at both locations, although nitrogen and potassium did not significantly affect tuber number. Plant height increased progressively with fertiliser rates up to the highest-performing tested levels, with 60 kg N/ha (80.73 cm) and 60 kg K₂O/ha (82.42 cm) producing the tallest plants at Ogbomoso. Leaf production was highest at 75 kg N/ha (67.03 leaves) and 75 kg P₂O₅/ha (77.43 leaves) at Igboora, while tiller production peaked at 60 kg N/ha (6.47 tillers) and 90 kg K₂O/ha (8.67 tillers) at Igboora. Tuber weight responses showed location-specific optimal rates: 45 kg N/ha produced the heaviest tubers at both locations (24.04 g at Ogbomoso; 36.29 g at Igboora), while the phosphorus rates associated with the highest tuber weights were 45 kg P₂O₅/ha at Ogbomoso (29.99 g) and 75 kg P₂O₅/ha at Igboora (46.06 g). The potassium rates associated with the highest tuber weight were 60 kg K₂O/ha at Ogbomoso (26.65 g) and 90 kg K₂O/ha at Igboora (39.53 g). Igboora generally recorded higher tuber weights, alongside higher initial soil organic carbon, nitrogen and available phosphorus levels. The results indicate location- and trait-specific responses to fertiliser application. These findings may inform the further evaluation of site-specific fertiliser recommendations for tiger nut production.

Efficacy of Different Botanical Powders against Groundnut Bruchid (Caryedon serratus) in Five Stored Groundnut Kernel Varieties

Omer R. M. Rahama — 2026-10-29

Storage infestation by the groundnut bruchid (Caryedon serratus) can reduce the usable mass of groundnut kernels. The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of selected locally available botanical powders against groundnut bruchid (Caryedon serratus) in stored groundnut kernels. A factorial experiment was carried out at the Plant Protection Sciences Laboratory, University of Kordofan, Sudan, during the 2022/23 storage season using four botanical powders at 1.25% (w/w): neem seed (Azadirachta indica), hot pepper (Capsicum frutescens), gadgad (Geigeria alata), wormwood (Artemisia herba-alba) and an untreated control. Five groundnut varieties (Ghibeish, Sudri, Barberton, Ashford, and local variety) were evaluated under controlled storage conditions for two months. Seed weight retention was used as the principal indicator of varietal resistance and treatment effectiveness. Results revealed significant differences among botanical treatments, varieties, and their interaction effects on seed protection. Wormwood powder at 1.25 per cent recorded the highest mean seed weight retention (72.48 ± 1.52 g), followed by chili powder (71.13 ± 1.56 g), while untreated seeds experienced the greatest losses (55.81 ± 1.68 g). Among varieties, Ashford variety showed the highest resistance (70.08 ± 2.62 g), whereas the local variety exhibited the greatest susceptibility (65.48 ± 1.70 g). The highest overall protection was obtained from the Ashford × wormwood combination (82.32 ± 0.75 g), indicating a variety × treatment interaction between varietal resistance and botanical treatment. These findings demonstrate that selected botanical powders, particularly Artemisia herba-alba and Capsicum frutescens, may offer promising alternatives to synthetic insecticides for sustainable groundnut storage protection in Sudan.

The Hepatoprotective Potential and Renal Function Analysis of Chrysophylum albidum Leaf Extract in Carbon Tetrachloride-induced Rats

Ifeanyi Prince — 2026-10-31

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) can produce experimental hepatic injury accompanied by alterations in haematological, lipid, renal, and hepatic indices. This study evaluated the therapeutic potential of ethanolic leaf extract of Chrysophyllum albidum in CCl₄-induced male albino rats. Thirty-two rats were assigned to four groups of eight animals. Group I received feed and potable water, whereas Group II received feed, potable water, and CCl₄. Groups III and IV received CCl₄ followed by 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight of the leaf extract, respectively. Haematological indices, lipid profile, renal function indices, and liver function markers were assessed. Compared with the CCl₄-induced positive control, extract-treated rats showed significantly higher red blood cell counts, packed cell volume, haemoglobin, platelet counts, sodium, chloride, total protein, and albumin values (p<0.05), together with significantly lower white blood cell counts, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, urea, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and bilirubin values (p<0.05). High-density lipoprotein cholesterol also increased in the treated groups. The observed changes were generally more favourable at the tested doses than in the untreated CCl₄ group. These findings suggest that C. albidum leaf extract may ameliorate selected haematological and biochemical alterations associated with CCl₄-induced hepatic injury in rats. Further studies incorporating histopathology, oxidative-stress markers, extract standardisation, and a standard hepatoprotective control are required.

Productivity and Economic Performance of Four Rice-based Cropping Sequences in Stabilized Charlands of Bangladesh

Mohammad Ahsan Habib — 2026-11-04

Diversification of rice-based cropping sequences may increase the market value of annual production, but sequence-level evidence from stabilised riverine charlands remains limited. Four three-crop sequences were evaluated descriptively at Kalibarir char and Ujan Kashiar char in the Old Brahmaputra Floodplain of Bangladesh during 2023–2024: chili–bitter gourd–transplanted (T.) aman rice (CP2), sweet gourd–cucumber–T. aman rice (CP7), maize–okra–T. aman rice (CP9), and sweet potato–foxtail millet–T. aman rice (CP10). The field documentation indicates a randomised complete block design with three replications, although only site-level and pooled means were available for analysis. CP7 had the largest reported rice-equivalent yield (REY; 77.05 t ha⁻¹) and net return (BDT 1,072,474.50 ha⁻¹); CP10 had the highest reported benefit–cost ratio (3.22). Crop occupation totaled 325, 308, 331, and 318 days for CP2, CP7, CP9, and CP10, respectively. Dividing reported gross returns by the corresponding REY values implies reference rice prices ranging from BDT 23.83 to 37.03 kg⁻¹, but the crop-specific price records and valuation conventions required to explain these differences were unavailable. A Boro–fallow–T. aman system was used solely as a descriptive accounting benchmark. The numerical rankings represent provisional summaries of one cropping cycle rather than statistically established differences or verified economic advantages.