Curcumin Content of Cultivated Tumeric in Korea

재배(栽培) 울금(鬱金)의 쿨쿠민 함량(含量)

Tumeric, Curcuma longa L.(Zingiberaceae) is native to the southern Asia, cultivated mainly in India and has been used for the treatment of hemorrhages in oriental medicine. The ground powder has also been used for flavouring and dyeing agents. In this report, the results of trial cultivation of tumeric in the middle portion of Korea (Kyungi, Shihung) are summarized. The rhizomes used for this trial cultivation were purchased from the Takii Seed Co. (Japan) and planted in the late of April and harvested in the middle of November. The curcumin contents of harvested tumeric were about 0.1% and 0.24% from finger type and bulb type respectively and these are comparable with those of commercial tumerics.