What Is Turmeric (Ukon)?

Turmeric is a plant of the ginger family whose rhizome is used as food and spice.

What Is Turmeric?

Turmeric is a plant of the genus Curcuma in the ginger family. Its rhizome has long been used for color and flavor, as in curry. The main yellow pigment is curcumin.

Source：[1]、[2]

Autumn, Spring and Purple Ukon

Name	Scientific name
Autumn ukon (turmeric)	Curcuma longa
Spring ukon	Curcuma aromatica
Purple ukon (zedoary)	Curcuma zedoaria

An Okinawa Prefecture study found essential-oil content in dried slices in the order autumn > spring > purple ukon.

Source：[1]、[3]

Use in Foods and Additives

“Turmeric color,” made mainly of curcumin from the rhizome, is used as a food colorant. Under MHLW’s classification, turmeric, spring ukon and zedoary rhizomes and curcumin are not regarded as drugs unless drug-like claims are made.

Source：[2]、[3]

Related Ingredients

Dr.JAPAN Products Containing This Ingredient

Dr.ACIS

Sources

[1]Okinawa Industrial Technology Center, Research Report No.15 (2012)
https://www.pref.okinawa.jp/_res/projects/default_project/_page_/001/019/800/2012_004_web.pdf
[2]List of Existing Food Additives (Japan Food Chemical Research Foundation, 2025)
https://www.ffcr.or.jp/webupload/kizontenkameibo.pdf
[3]MHLW, Examples of the food/drug classification of ingredients (2026)
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/001734204.pdf

This page provides general information about the ingredient and does not indicate the effects or efficacy of any product.