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.
Javanese turmeric works primarily through xanthorrhizol, a potent active compound that exhibits hepatoprotective properties. It stimulates bile production and secretion, a process known as a choleretic effect, which aids digestion and liver detoxification. Evidence Level A research indicates that curcuminoids within the herb also reduce inflammation by inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines, supporting its traditional use for liver and gallbladder function.
Does Javanese turmeric interact with medications?
Javanese turmeric may interact with medications metabolized by the liver or those affecting blood clotting. Because it stimulates bile flow, it can alter the absorption of certain drugs. Individuals taking anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs should exercise caution due to potential additive effects. Always consult a healthcare provider before combining this herbal supplement with prescription medications.
What is the recommended dosage for Javanese turmeric?
The standard adult dosage for Javanese turmeric is 250-500mg of a standardized extract taken daily. Alternatively, one can consume approximately 2g of the dried rhizome prepared as a tea. It is best taken with meals to enhance absorption and reduce potential gastrointestinal upset. Always follow specific product label instructions or professional guidance.
Is Javanese turmeric safe during pregnancy?
No, Javanese turmeric is considered unsafe during pregnancy. It stimulates uterine contractions and increases bile flow, which poses significant risks during gestation. Breastfeeding women should also avoid this herb due to a lack of safety data. It is crucial to consult a doctor before use if pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
Who should not take Javanese turmeric?
Individuals with bile duct obstruction, gallstones, or severe liver disease should avoid Javanese turmeric. Because it actively stimulates bile secretion, use can exacerbate existing blockages or induce gallstone colic. Those with known allergies to the Zingiberaceae family, such as ginger or common turmeric, should also avoid it due to the risk of rare allergic reactions.
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 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Curcuma xanthorrhiza, also known as Javanese turmeric or Temulawak, is a medicinal plant native to Indonesia used for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties [PMID:34194529, PMID:38239285].
Background
Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb. is a member of the Zingiberaceae family originating from Java Island, Indonesia [PMID:37346311, PMID:38239285]. It is widely utilized in Indonesia as a nutritional plant and a key ingredient in jamu (traditional medicine) [PMID:34194529].
Traditional uses
Traditionally used to treat lack of appetite, stomach disorders, liver illness, constipation, bloody diarrhea, dysentery, arthritis, children's fevers, hypotriglyceridaemia, hemorrhoids, vaginal discharge, rheumatism, skin eruptions, fatigue, and gastrointestinal disorders [PMID:34194529, PMID:35933899].
Active compounds
The plant contains over 40 active compounds, including curcuminoids (curcumin), terpenoids (specifically the bisabolene sesquiterpenoid xanthorrhizol), phenolic compounds, alnustone, and gingerol derivatives such as xanthorrhiza A and B [PMID:34194529, PMID:35933899, PMID:38284732, PMID:40975864].
Mechanism of action
Xanthorrhizol exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties and protects against particulate matter-induced skin damage by modulating inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress responses [PMID:40573205]. It also demonstrates the ability to inhibit pancreatic lipase, which is involved in fat metabolism [PMID:39852154].
Clinical evidence
Evidence AType 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Supplementation with curcumin (including C. xanthorrhiza) led to a significant decrease in fasting blood glucose [PMID:39683570].
Evidence CIrritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Extracts of Curcuma xanthorrhiza have not shown significant clinical outcomes for IBS [PMID:41599795].
Evidence DLiver Damage
Extracts reduced acute elevation of serum transaminases and alleviated liver damage induced by acetaminophen and carbon tetrachloride in mice [PMID:8571920].
Evidence DCancer Cachexia
C. xanthorrhiza extract and xanthorrhizol significantly attenuated loss of body weight and epididymal fat mass in CT26 tumor-bearing mice [PMID:38298864].
Drug interactions
Co-administration of C. xanthorrhiza extract in rats significantly increased the area under the curve (AUC) of R- and S-warfarin [PMID:34062109]. Ethanol and aqueous extracts inhibited UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT1A1 and UGT2B7) activities in human recombinant enzymes [PMID:27695274].
Evidence summary
Evidence ranges from high-level meta-analyses for glycemic control (Level A) to preliminary in vitro and animal studies (Level D) for hepatoprotective, anticancer, and antimicrobial activities. Clinical evidence for IBS is negative.
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 39683570 (2024) — Curcumin Attenuates Hyperglycemia and Inflammation in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Quantitative Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trial. · Nutrients
2.PMID: 34194529 (2021) — Javanese Turmeric (Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb.): Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry, Biotechnology, and Pharmacological Activities. · Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3.PMID: 37346311 (2022) — Classification of Curcuma longa and Curcuma zanthorrhiza using transfer learning. · PeerJ. Computer science
4.PMID: 35933899 (2022) — Xanthorrhizol, a potential anticancer agent, from Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb. · Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
5.PMID: 37536430 (2023) — Anti-biofilm activity of a novel nanoemulsion containing Curcuma xanthorrhiza oil.
Government sources
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.
6.PMID: 38284732 (2024) — Alnustone: A Review of its Sources, Pharmacology, and Pharmacokinetics. · Current molecular pharmacology
7.PMID: 32867389 (2020) — The Authentication of Java Turmeric (Curcuma xanthorrhiza) Using Thin Layer Chromatography and 1H-NMR Based-Metabolite Fingerprinting Coupled with Multivariate Analysis. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
8.PMID: 33401775 (2021) — Water-in-Oil-in-Water Nanoemulsions Containing Temulawak (Curcuma xanthorriza Roxb) and Red Dragon Fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) Extracts. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
9.PMID: 29657431 (2018) — Evaluation of antimycobacterial activity of Curcuma xanthorrhiza ethanolic extract against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv in vitro. · Veterinary world
10.PMID: 18350518 (2008) — Cancer chemoprotective effects of Curcuma xanthorrhiza. · Phytotherapy research : PTR
11.PMID: 35464179 (2021) — Fermented medicinal herbs improve hematological and physiological profile of Striped catfish (Pangasianodonhypophthalmus). · F1000Research
12.PMID: 39852154 (2025) — The Strong Inhibition of Pancreatic Lipase by Selected Indonesian Medicinal Plants as Anti-Obesity Agents. · Current issues in molecular biology
13.PMID: 40573205 (2025) — Protective Effects of Xanthorrhizol-Rich Extracts Against PM-Induced Skin Damage in Human Keratinocytes and 3D-Reconstructed Skin Models. · Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
14.PMID: 34537630 (2022) — Rapid discrimination of Curcuma longa and Curcuma xanthorrhiza using Direct Analysis in Real Time Mass Spectrometry and Near Infrared Spectroscopy. · Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy
15.PMID: 32972257 (2020) — Antimicrobial activity of Curcuma xanthorrhiza nanoemulsions on Streptococcus mutans biofilms. · Biofouling
16.PMID: 38239285 (2024) — Extraction Process Optimization of Curcumin from Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb. with Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Using Ethanol as a Cosolvent. · ACS omega
17.PMID: 40568508 (2025) — The phenolic and flavonoid content and biological activity of Curcuma (Curcuma xanthorrhiza) fractions with different solvent polarities. · Journal of advanced veterinary and animal research
18.PMID: 37623051 (2023) — Enhancing Therapeutic Efficacy of Curcumin: Advances in Delivery Systems and Clinical Applications. · Gels (Basel, Switzerland)
19.PMID: 38298864 (2024) — Curcuma xanthorrhiza extract and xanthorrhizol ameliorate cancer-induced adipose wasting in CT26-bearing mice by regulating lipid metabolism and adipose tissue browning. · Integrative medicine research
20.PMID: 39829662 (2024) — In vitro anthelmintic activity of Phyllanthus niruri Linn., Andrographis paniculata, Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb., and Curcuma aeruginosa Roxb. ethanol extracts on the motility and cuticle damage of Ascaridia galli. · Veterinary world
21.PMID: 27695274 (2016) — Effects of Curcuma xanthorrhiza Extracts and Their Constituents on Phase II Drug-metabolizing Enzymes Activity. · Pharmacognosy research
22.PMID: 34062109 (2021) — The influence of Javanese turmeric (Curcuma xanthorrhiza) on the pharmacokinetics of warfarin in rats with single and multiple-dose studies. · Pharmaceutical biology
23.PMID: 35224396 (2022) — Enhancement of Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb Phytochemical Dissolution via Micronization Using a Supercritical Antisolvent Technique. · ACS omega
24.PMID: 41599795 (2026) — Plant-Derived Treatments for IBS: Clinical Outcomes, Mechanistic Insights, and Their Position in International Guidelines. · Nutrients
25.PMID: 8571920 (1995) — Protective and therapeutic effects of Curcuma xanthorrhiza on hepatotoxin-induced liver damage. · The American journal of Chinese medicine
26.PMID: 40975864 (2025) — Two new gingerol derivatives from the rhizome of Curcuma xanthorrhiza D.Dietr. · Natural product research
27.PMID: 40926854 (2025) — Evaluation of Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb. extract as a functional alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in broiler chicken nutrition. · Veterinary world
28.PMID: 38253795 (2024) — Antimicrobial and Antiproliferative Effects of Zingiberaceae Oils: A Natural Solution for Oral Health. · Chemistry & biodiversity
29.PMID: 37313536 (2023) — Optimized Solvents for the Maceration of Phenolic Antioxidants from Curcuma xanthorrhiza Rhizome using a Simplex Centroid Design. · Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences