Medical and Food Industries Put Turmeric's Antibacterial Properties to Good Use

• Antimicrobial Coatings for Medical Devices
• Wound-Care Products
• Safe Food Packaging

Turmeric's health benefits are well known in countries that commonly use the spice in traditional medicine and cooking. Now scientists worldwide are taking advantage of the spice's natural antimicrobial properties. They've employed turmeric and its compounds in a number of innovative products for medical and food industries. This includes making bandages for wounds and pesticide sheets for crops. ^{(v.11, 37, 40, 41)}

Medical material and food packaging can help protect against microbes that cause infection and spoil food. When turmeric is added to these products, industry research shows it is an effective antibacterial and antifungal agent. In addition, turmeric has a long safety record. This makes it especially practical for food and healthcare products. ^{(v.11, 37, 40, 41)}

Antibacterial Cloth Made with Turmeric

Antimicrobial fabrics are used in health and hygiene products. In the medical field, they help control infections. Herbal fabric dyes are a natural and safe alternative to synthetic antimicrobial solutions. ^{(v.11, 40, 42)}

Research shows that turmeric is an effective antimicrobial dye for textiles such as: ^{(v.11, 40, 42)}

• Carpeting
• Bandages for wounds
• Wool

Turmeric compounds are applied by themselves or combined with other natural substances. Either way, the compounds in turmeric lend excellent antimicrobial properties to fabric against some bacteria. ^(v.11, 40)

Turmeric-Infused Biomedical Adhesive Film

Turmeric and neem (oil from a large semi-evergreen tree of the East Indies) add nontoxic antimicrobial properties to materials made to cover wounds or coat surgical implants. Both are major sources of hospital-acquired infections, which increase the risk of mortality and health care costs tremendously. ^{(v.19, 37, 43)}

For example, statistics from one report showed that 6 times more patients with heath care associated infections died than those without infection. In fact, sepsis related to surgery and medical treatment for trauma is the 10th most common cause of death in the United States alone. ^{(v.19, 20, 43)}

Some bacteria actually produce a slime that allows it to stick to the plastic used in medical devices (such as shunts, prosthetic joints, and catheters). The slime also creates a biofilm that protects the bacteria from the immune system and antibiotics. ^(v.34)

Coating surgical implants with antimicrobial film could help prevent these infections. When tested, biodegradable adhesive film containing turmeric and neem successfully blocked growth of the bacteria related to: ^(v.37, 43)

• E. coli infections
• Staph infections
• Bacterial toxins that cause diarrhea and vomiting
• Salmonella

Antibacterial Turmeric Foam and Soap

Turmeric and curcumin each proved successful against bacteria when used in medical wound care products:

• Curcumin-loaded foam used with phototherapy reduced E. coli bacteria by over 80%. ^(v.38)
• A turmeric-based antibacterial soap developed to clean and treat wounds in patients with HIV blocked 4 different bacteria and yeast organisms. ^(v.25)

Food Packaging and Edible Coatings Made with Turmeric

Turmeric-based antimicrobial, edible films successfully keep produce (such as carrots) fresher longer. The edible coatings preserve color, nutrients, and texture while preventing spoilage. ^(v.41)

Food wrappers made with chitosan and turmeric extract have also been successfully tested. The film packaging protects against UV light and both salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus. ^(v.256)