Abstract: Plants are nature’s remedies and have been used on earth for food and medicine since ancient times. Today the global movement towards more natural life style has brought about resurgence of interest in herbs as they are capable of bringing the body into harmony and health. The use of plants and their active principles in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases is based on the experience of traditional system of medicine from different ethnic societies but there use in modern medicines is limited by the lack of scientific data. Few medicinal plants have attracted the interest of scientists and been the subject of scientific investigations. One plant that has been investigated thoroughly is the turmeric (Curcuma longa). Its active constituent is curcumin which gives it yellow colour. The ongoing laboratories and clinical research indicate that curcumin has a broad range of biological activities. The aim of this review article is to explain some of its relevant medicinal properties.