Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a perennial, gramineous plant which has yellow flowers and big greens.

The mainland of the turmeric is South Asia. It grows in Pakistan, India, China, Bangladesh ant other Asian countries.Generally its rhizome is used. Rhizomes are yellow finger shaped and has bitter taste. It contents alot of substances but the effective material is curcumin. 3 gram turmeric powder includes 30-90 mg curcumin.

What Are The Benefits Of Turmeric?

Some advantages of turmeric are as below;

• Effecting  as antienflamatuar
• Effecting against cancer
• Effecting as antiantiateroenik
• Effecting as antioxidant
• Preventing Alzheimer illness
• Beneficial against diabetes

Spices are plant origin ingredients that are used in drinks and foods for different aims. The intended uses of spices are as below;

• Enriching of aroma
• Antimicrobial effect (oregano, garlic, chili pepper, clove, cinnamon, mustard, allspice, marjoram etc.)
• Antioxidant effect (rosemary, oregano, sage, sumach, clove etc…)
• Chlorothiazide effect (garlic)
• Roborant effect
• Aphrodisiac effect (vanilla)
• Anodyne effect (clove)
• Alleviant effect (sage)
• Preventing mycotoxin formation
• Aperitif effect
• Increasing urine

The Effects of Spices on Microorganisms

It has been known that the antimicrobial effect of spices depend on the volitile oil content.

During recent researches, it has been found that oregano, mint and sage have antimicrobial effect on Salmonella typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus. Garlic, onion and black pepper have antimicrobial effect on Campylobacter jejuni. Also it has been found that mustard has antimicrobial effect on Bacillus cereus and cinnamon inhibits Trichoderma harziannum, Alternaria alternata, F. culmorum, Clodosporium clodosporioides, Aspergillus versicolor, Penicillium citrinum growth.

According to researches, the most effective antimicrobial spices are clove, marjoram and cinnamon less efectives are, all spice, garlic, oregano, onion, black pepper.

Although spices have lots of benefits on human health, some has toxic effects when used excessive. For example, when cinnamon is used too much, it can be toxic, it cause bleariness on the skin, and can be allergen. Also it is known that mustard is allergen.

According to a research in Belgium L-cysteine, an amino acid, may reduce the concentration of acrylamide by more than 99 per cent.

In industry, two asparaginase enzymes called DSM’s Preventase and Novozyme’s are used the reduction of acrylamide and 90 per cent of yield is obtained.

What is Acrylamide?

Acrylamide is a carcinogen chemical substance that ocur during frying and baking by heat induced between sugar and asparagine (Maillard Reaction).But appreciable amount of acrylamide has not be found in fresh and boiled meals. But still there is very little information about how it occur.

It was found that acrylamide couse bad effects on human health. According to some research Due to their job some people are exposed to this chemical and it cause neuralgia. Some research on male animals showed acrylamide cause infertility.