Potential uses of turmeric (Curcuma longa) products as alternative means of pest management in crop production

Curcuma longa (turmeric) is a small rhizomatous perennial herb of Zingiberaceae (Ginger family) originating from south eastern Asia, most probably from India. The plant produces fleshy rhizomes of bright yellow to orange color in its root system, which are the source of the commercially available spice turmeric. In the form of root powder, turmeric is used for its flavouring properties as a spice, food preservative, and food-colouring agent. Turmeric has a long history of therapeutic uses as it is credited with a variety of important beneficial properties such as its antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and digestive properties. Moreover, main constituents of the plant are under investigation for possible benefits in the treatment of cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, liver disorders, and certain other diseases. However, except from its uses as a medicinal plant, the fresh juice, the aqueous extracts, and the essential oil of the plant are credited with interesting pesticidal properties against certain pests of agricultural importance as well as a noticeable repellent activity against noxious mosquito species. Research efforts so far and data from the international literature have shown a satisfactory potential of turmeric as a natural pesticide for possible use in crop protection and thus a highly promising future towards this direction, that is, the possibility of effective control of certain pests of agricultural importance with the use of turmeric products as a cheap and more environmentally friendly alternative to chemical pesticides already used for the same purpose.