Genetic effects of turmeric and curcumin in mice and rats.

Incorporation of either turmeric (0.5%) or curcumin (0.015%) into diets of mice did not show significant effect on the incidence of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes, structural and numerical aberrations in bone-marrow chromosomes, pregnancy rate, number of live and dead embryos, total implants and mutagenic index. Also rats fed cooked diets containing turmeric (0.5 and 0.05%) did not show significant differences in the incidence of chromosomal aberrations in their bone marrow.