Curcumae Radix is an efficacious ingredient with various medicinal properties empirically used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula for the treatment of cancer, depression, chest pain, dysmenorrhea, epilepsy, and jaundice. However, either phytochemical or pharmacological information of Curcumae Radix underlying its traditionally medicinal uses is rarely summarized and systematically analyzed. To provide evidence for clinical trials, a comprehensive literature review has been prepared of the phytochemicals, and ethnopharmacological and pharmacological mechanisms of this herb. The review approach consisted of searching several web-based scientific databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, and Elsevier. The keywords included “Curcumae Radix,” “Curcuma wenyujin,” “Curcuma longa,” “Curcuma kwangsiensis,” and “Curcuma phaeocaulis.” Based on the proposed criteria, 57 articles were evaluated in detail. The accumulated data indicate that Curcumae Radix contains a number of bioactive phytochemicals, mainly sesquiterpenes, diarylheptanoids, and diarylpentanoids, which account for a variety of medicinal values, such as anticancer, anti-inflammation, anti-hepatic fibrosis, and antioxidant. A wide range of apoptotic proteins, cell adhesion molecules, inflammatory cytokines, and enzymic and nonenzymic antioxidants could be modulated by either Curcumae Radix or its bioactive compounds, thus underpinning a fundamental understanding for the pharmacological effects of this herb. This review highlights the therapeutic potential of Curcumae Radix to progress the development of versatile adjuvants or therapeutic agents in the future.

姜黄是一种具有多种药性的有效成分，经验用于治疗癌症、抑郁症、胸痛、痛经、癫痫和黄疸的中药方剂。然而，很少总结和系统分析姜黄的传统药用基础的植物化学或药理信息。为了为临床试验提供证据，我们对这种草药的植物化学物质、民族药理学和药理学机制进行了全面的文献综述。审查方法包括搜索几个基于网络的科学数据库，包括 PubMed、Web of Science 和 Elsevier。关键词包括“姜黄”、“姜黄温育金”、“姜黄” 、” “广西姜黄”和“姜黄” 。” 根据提议的标准，对 57 篇文章进行了详细评估。积累的数据表明，姜黄含有多种生物活性植物化学物质，主要是倍半萜、二芳基庚烷和二芳基戊烷，具有抗癌、抗炎、抗肝纤维化和抗氧化等多种药用价值。姜黄或其生物活性化合物可以调节范围广泛的凋亡蛋白、细胞粘附分子、炎症细胞因子以及酶和非酶抗氧化剂，从而为对该草药药理作用的基本理解奠定基础。本综述强调了姜黄在未来推进多功能佐剂或治疗剂的开发的治疗潜力。