Phytochemicals found in turmeric have been investigated in preliminary research for their potential effects on diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's, arthritis, diabetes and other clinical disorders.
Some research shows compounds in turmeric to have anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties; however, curcumin is not one of them.
In another preliminary research example, curcumin is being studied for whether it alters the response to chemotherapy in patients with advanced bowel cancer, as found in a laboratory study.