This report reviews the traditional uses, chemical composition, and scientifically studied medicinal properties of Curcuma caesia (black turmeric), a rare and endangered medicinal plant native to India. It compiles existing research showing that the plant has been widely used in traditional medicine for treating ailments such as infections, inflammation, ulcers, neurological disorders, and cancer, and that modern studies partially support these uses due to its bioactive compounds like essential oils, phenolics, flavonoids, and alkaloids. The review also highlights its antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, neuropharmacological, and other therapeutic potentials, while emphasizing that overexploitation has made the plant endangered and that more research, conservation efforts, and safety studies are urgently needed to enable its sustainable and effective use in future pharmaceutical applications.
