Patient handout for Javanese Turmeric
Javanese Turmeric
Javanese Turmeric
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Curcuma xanthorrhiza
FAMILY
Zingiberaceae

CAUTION: Javanese turmeric should not be confused with Turmeric. It should also not be confused with Goldenseal, also known as Indian turmeric or turmeric root, or Zedoary, also known as white turmeric.

+ Other Common Names

  • Curcuma, Curcuma de Java, Curcuma Javanais, Cúrcuma Javanesa, Curcumae Xanthorrhizae Rhizoma, Java Turmeric, Safran des Indes, Témoé-lawacq, Témoé-lawaq, Temu Lawak, Temu Lawas, Tewon Lawa.

Overview

Javanese turmeric is a plant indigenous to the forests of Indonesia and the Malaysian peninsula (18). Javanese turmeric is traditionally used for gastrointestinal disorders including dyspepsia, flatulence, constipation, and diarrhea, as well as acne, arthritis, and liver and gallbladder complaints.

Safety

POSSIBLY SAFE ...when used orally and appropriately, short-term. Javanese turmeric extract 20 mg three times daily has been used with apparent safety for up to 18 weeks (14415).

POSSIBLY UNSAFE ...when used orally in excessive amounts or long-term. Javanese turmeric can cause gastric irritation and nausea (2,8).

PREGNANCY AND LACTATION: Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

+ Adverse Effects

General: Orally, Javanese turmeric seems to be well tolerated when used short-term.

Most Common Adverse Effects:

Orally: Gastric irritation and nausea.
  • + Gastrointestinal

    Orally, Javanese turmeric can cause gastric irritation and nausea when used in large amounts or for prolonged periods of time (2,8).

+ Effectiveness

INSUFFICIENT RELIABLE EVIDENCE to RATE
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It is unclear if oral Javanese turmeric is beneficial for IBS.
+ Details:  Preliminary clinical research shows that taking Javanese turmeric extract 20 mg three times daily for 18 weeks does not improve symptoms of IBS when compared with placebo (14415).

Move evidence is needed to rate Javanese turmeric for this use.

Dosing & Administration

  • Adult

    Oral:

    Research is limited; typical dosing is unavailable.

  • Standardization & Formulation

    There is insufficient reliable information available about the standardization of Javanese turmeric.

+ Interactions with Drugs

WARFARIN (Coumadin)

Interaction RatingModerate Be cautious with this combination.
Severity = Moderate •  Occurrence = Possible •  Level of Evidence = D
Javanese turmeric might increase the risk of bleeding with warfarin.
+ Details
Animal research suggests that administering high doses of oral Javanese turmeric daily for 7 days prior to a single dose of intravenous warfarin, or for 3 days in combination with intravenous warfarin, increases blood levels of warfarin. This increase did not occur with lower doses (106094). This effect has not been reported in humans.

Interactions with Supplements

None known.

+ Interactions with Conditions

+ LIVER OR GALLBLADDER DISEASE

Javanese turmeric has bile stimulating effects and might exacerbate some types of liver or gallbladder diseases. Javanese turmeric is contraindicated in people with acute bile duct inflammation, biliary tree inflammation (8), bile duct obstruction (2,8), or jaundice (8). Individuals with gallstones should have medical evaluation before using (2).

Interactions with Lab Tests

None known.

Overdose

There is insufficient reliable information available about the presentation or treatment of overdose with Javanese turmeric.

Commercial Products Containing: Javanese Turmeric


Pharmacokinetics

Absorption: Based on animal data, the bioavailability of oral Javanese turmeric or its constituent, xanthorrhizol, is approximately 13% (112357).

Excretion: A study in mice and rats suggests the mean plasma clearance of intravenously and orally administered xanthorrhizol, a constituent of Javanese turmeric, is about 108-350 mL/min/kg, with a terminal half-life of 5.6-8 hours (112357).


Mechanism of Action

General: The applicable part of Javanese turmeric is the root. Javanese turmeric root contains a volatile oil with the chief components of alpha-curcumene, xanthorrhizol, beta-curcumene, germacrene, furanodien, and furanodienone. The root also contains curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and non-phenolic diarylheptanoids (18).

Antidiabetic effects: An in vitro study of adipocytes with induced insulin resistance from dexamethasone suggests that Javanese turmeric in the form of a standardized polyherbal supplement (Synacinn, Proliv) improves insulin-stimulated glucose utilization in the adipose and normal cells, theoretically through upregulating GLUT4 protein expression and inhibiting alpha-amylase, alpha-glucosidase, and dipeptidyl peptidase IV (112358).

Antifungal effects: In vitro, Javanese turmeric extract inhibits Candida albicans with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 3.9 mg/mL (112356).

References

See Monograph References


Monographs are reviewed on a regular schedule. See our Editorial Principles and Process for details. The literature evaluated in this monograph is current through 2/19/2024. This monograph was last modified on 2/7/2024. If you have comments or suggestions, please tell the editors.