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.
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.
General: Orally, Javanese turmeric seems to be well tolerated when used short-term.
Most Common Adverse Effects:
Orally: Gastric irritation and nausea.
-
Orally, Javanese turmeric can cause gastric irritation and nausea when used in large amounts or for prolonged periods of time (
2,
8).
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.
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).
There is insufficient reliable information available about the presentation or treatment of overdose with Javanese turmeric.
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).
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).
Monographs are reviewed on a regular schedule. See our
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