This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have a medical condition.
How does Curcuma angustifolia work as a digestive aid?
Curcuma angustifolia primarily functions through a demulcent mechanism. The high starch content in the rhizome forms a soothing, mucilaginous gel when mixed with water, which coats the mucous membranes of the digestive tract. This protective layer helps reduce inflammation and irritation, making it effective for digestive complaints. Additionally, the presence of tannins provides mild astringent effects that can help manage diarrhea symptoms (Evidence Level: C).
Is Curcuma angustifolia safe to take during pregnancy?
Curcuma angustifolia is generally considered safe during pregnancy when consumed in normal food amounts. In traditional Indian folk medicine, the starchy rhizome is commonly used as a weaning food for infants and as a nutritive supplement for pregnant women due to its easy digestibility. It is viewed as a gentle, food-grade herb rather than a potent medicinal agent, and no specific contraindications for pregnancy have been documented (Evidence Level: C).
What is the recommended dosage for Curcuma angustifolia starch?
The standard adult dosage for Curcuma angustifolia is 1 to 2 tablespoons of the rhizome starch daily. This amount is traditionally prepared as a gruel or mixed with water or milk to create an easily digestible food source. Because the herb is used primarily as a dietary starch rather than a concentrated extract, this dosage is considered safe and well-tolerated for addressing digestive complaints and diarrhea (Evidence Level: Traditional).
Does Curcuma angustifolia interact with any medications?
There are no documented significant drug interactions for Curcuma angustifolia. Because the rhizome is primarily a starchy food product rather than a concentrated chemical agent, it does not typically interfere with cytochrome P450 enzymes or drug absorption mechanisms. However, because the starch forms a gel-like substance in the gut, it is advisable to separate consumption from oral medications by at least one hour to prevent any theoretical delay in drug absorption (Evidence Level: C).
What are the main uses of Curcuma angustifolia in herbal medicine?
Curcuma angustifolia is primarily used in Indian folk medicine as an easily digestible food source for those recovering from illness. Its main applications include treating diarrhea, soothing digestive inflammation, and serving as a nutritive infant food. The rhizome starch is valued for its demulcent properties, which coat and protect the gastrointestinal tract. While it contains curcumin analogs similar to turmeric, it is distinct for its starchy, nutritional profile rather than potent anti-inflammatory action (Evidence Level: C).
PubMed-compiled information sheet
This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 19 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Curcuma angustifolia (Indian Arrowroot) is a rhizomatous medicinal herb of the Zingiberaceae family used traditionally for food and the treatment of various diseases [PMID:35611786, PMID:38623076].
Background
Curcuma angustifolia Roxb., also known as Indian Palo, is widely distributed in India, Nepal, Thailand, Bangladesh, and Pakistan [PMID:35611786, PMID:25150596]. It is a rhizomatous perennial herb often found in open gaps of dry dipterocarp forests [PMID:38623076, PMID:24159689].
Traditional uses
It is traditionally used as a food additive, spice, and medicine for treating various diseases [PMID:35611786, PMID:36358202, PMID:33102197]. Specifically, the rhizome starch (Tugaksheeree) is used in folklore and Ayurvedic practice to treat hyperacidity, gastric ulcers, and Amlapitta [PMID:22048544, PMID:26195908, PMID:25558167].
Active compounds
Secondary metabolites include essential oils, alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, phytosterols, terpenes, and phenols [PMID:35611786]. Major constituents of the rhizome oil include curzerenone (72.6%), camphor, and germacrone [PMID:28067055]. Leaf essential oil contains curzerenone, geranyl-p-cymene, alpha-elemenone, and eucalyptol [PMID:38623076]. Nerolidol has been identified as a major constituent of a bioactive fraction from the rhizome [PMID:40438603].
Mechanism of action
A bioactive fraction from the rhizome exerts anti-diabetic effects by regulating the AMPK/PKA signaling pathway and inhibiting alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzymes [PMID:40438603].
Clinical evidence
Evidence BAmlapitta
Internal administration of C. angustifolia starch (4 g TID for 30 days) was found to be highly effective in treating Amlapitta [PMID:22048544]
Evidence DHyperglycemia
Methanolic extracts of rhizomes and leaves inhibit alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzymes in vitro [PMID:40438603, PMID:38484132, PMID:40424639]
Evidence DGastric Ulcers
Rhizome starch demonstrated anti-ulcerogenic activity in pyloric ligated rat models [PMID:25558167, PMID:26195908]
Acute toxicity studies using rhizome starch in rats showed no mortality up to a maximum dose of 4400 mg/kg [PMID:26195908]. A bioactive fraction from the rhizome showed no toxic effects on the HepG2 cell line [PMID:40438603].
Dosage & administration
In a clinical study for Amlapitta, the starch was administered at a dose of 4 g TID with water for 30 days [PMID:22048544]. No PubMed data available for other conditions. Consult a healthcare provider.
Evidence summary
Evidence is primarily based on in vitro assays, animal models (D), and one small clinical study (B). There is strong preliminary evidence for antidiabetic and anti-ulcerogenic activity, but large-scale human trials are lacking.
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 35611786 (2023) — Ethnomedicinal, Phytochemical and Nutra-pharmaceutical Potentials of Indian Arrowroot (Curcuma angustifolia Roxb). · Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening
2.PMID: 40438603 (2025) — Bioactive fraction isolated from Curcuma angustifolia rhizome exerts anti-diabetic effects in vitro, in silico and in vivo by regulating AMPK/PKA signaling pathway. · Frontiers in pharmacology
3.PMID: 36358202 (2022) — Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of the Leaf Essential Oils of Curcuma longa, Curcuma aromatica and Curcuma angustifolia. · Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
4.PMID: 38623076 (2024) — Exploring the chemical characterization and insecticidal activities of Curcuma angustifolia roxb. leaf essential oils against three major stored product insects. · Saudi journal of biological sciences
No direct government monograph is available for this herb. The content below is AI-generated and has not been verified against an authoritative government source. Use the search links to check official sources before relying on this information.
— Ethnomedicinal plants in Champadevi rural municipality, Okhaldhunga district, Nepal.
· Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine
6.PMID: 38484132 (2024) — Phytochemical Profiling and Assessment of Antidiabetic Activity of Curcuma Angustifolia Rhizome Methanolic Extract: An In Vitro and In Silico Analysis. · Chemistry & biodiversity
7.PMID: 28067055 (2017) — Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of essential oil from leaves and rhizomes of Curcuma angustifolia Roxb. · Natural product research
8.PMID: 33102197 (2020) — Assessment of phylogenetic relationship among twenty Curcuma species in Thailand using amplified fragment length polymorphism marker. · Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & research
9.PMID: 40424639 (2025) — Phytochemical Composition and Inhibitory Effects of Curcuma angustifolia Leaves Extracts Against α-Amylase and α-Glucosidase Enzymes Associated With Hyperglycaemia: In Vitro and In Silico Analysis. · Chemistry & biodiversity
10.PMID: 24159689 (2012) — Geographic distributions and ecology of ornamental Curcuma (Zingiberaceae) in Northeastern Thailand. · Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS
11.PMID: 29142438 (2017) — Molecular Simulation-based Combinatorial Modeling and Antioxidant Activities of Zingiberaceae Family Rhizomes. · Pharmacognosy magazine
12.PMID: 22048544 (2010) — A comparative study of efficacy of Tugaksheeree [Curcuma angustifolia Roxb. and Maranta arundinacea Linn.] in management of Amlapitta. · Ayu
13.PMID: 39993938 (2025) — Comprehensive Metabolomic and Bioactivity Profiling of Zingiberaceae Species From Manipur: Elucidating Antidiabetic and Antioxidant Mechanisms Through In Vitro and In Silico Approaches. · Phytochemical analysis : PCA
14.PMID: 25150596 (2015) — Isolation and release characteristics of starch from the rhizome of Indian Palo. · International journal of biological macromolecules
15.PMID: 24696578 (2013) — Comparative physico-chemical profiles of Tugaksheeree (Curcuma angustifolia Roxb. and Maranta arundinacea Linn.). · Ayu
16.PMID: 26195908 (2014) — Evaluation of acute toxicity and anti-ulcerogenic study of rhizome starch of two source plants of Tugaksheeree (Curcuma angustifolia Roxb. and Maranta arundinacea Linn.). · Ayu
17.PMID: 41514856 (2025) — Utilization of Wild Edible Plants by the Tai Yoy Ethnic Group in Akat Amnuai District, Sakon Nakhon Province, Thailand. · Biology
18.PMID: 25805494 (2015) — Effect of carboxymethylation on physicochemical and release characteristics of Indian Palo starch. · International journal of biological macromolecules
19.PMID: 25558167 (2014) — The evaluation of anti-ulcerogenic effect of rhizome starch of two source plants of Tugaksheeree (Curcuma angustifolia Roxb. and Maranta arundinacea Linn.) on pyloric ligated rats. · Ayu