Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Essential Oils of Curcuma Species

Members of the genus <i>Curcuma</i> L. have been used in traditional medicine for centuries for treating gastrointestinal disorders, pain, inflammatory conditions, wounds, and for cancer prevention and antiaging, among others. Many of the biological activities of <i>Curcuma</i> species can be attributed to nonvolatile curcuminoids, but these plants also produce volatile chemicals. Essential oils, in general, have shown numerous beneficial effects for health maintenance and treatment of diseases. Essential oils from <i>Curcuma</i> spp., particularly <i>C. longa</i>, have demonstrated various health-related biological activities and several essential oil companies have recently marketed <i>Curcuma</i> oils. This review summarizes the volatile components of various <i>Curcuma</i> species, the biological activities of <i>Curcuma</i> essential oils, and potential safety concerns of <i>Curcuma</i> essential oils and their components.