This natural compound is a major component of turmeric (Curcuma longa), a plant originating from Asia's tropical regions. Like its relative, ginger, the root of turmeric is used as a spice. Curcumin gives the root of turmeric its vivid golden-yellow color, and has long been used as a dye in food (most notably in curry) and drinks. As an essential component of turmeric, it is particularly significant in India, where it has been a staple of societal traditions and Ayurvedic health practices for thousands of years. Curcumin is turmeric's most abundant curcuminoid; it is the active constituent considered to be most responsible for the spice's many wellness benefits. In Ayurvedic medicine, a traditional medical system originating in India. Many of curcumin's medicinal properties have been validated by scientific inquiry.