## 2 Phytonutrients
### Antimicrobial  
* Antiviral  
Several studies have demonstrated that the turmeric plant and the isolated phytochemical curcumin exhibited activity against a wide variety of viruses due to its potential to interfere with different cellular signaling pathways, inhibiting virus proliferation and viral expression [65]. The list of viruses that turmeric demonstrated activity are influenza A, dengue, viral hemorrhagic septicemia, human immunodeficiency, herpes simplex, Enterovirus 71, Zika, chikungunya, vesicular stomatitis, human respiratory syncytial, and others [66]. In general, curcumin strongly inhibits virus proliferation and expression. An in vitro study focused on the structure-activity relationship demonstrated that double bonds in the central carbon chain enhanced the curcumin activity against type A influenza virus by its interaction with the receptor-binding region [67]. On the other hand, in another study, researchers claimed that the hydroxyl groups and phenyl rings of curcumin are responsible for the antiviral effect against the herpes simplex virus [68]. Curcumin showed an excellent inhibitory effect in the micromolar range against transmissible gastroenteritis virus in cells in a dose-, temperature- and time-dependent manner [69]. In a very recent systematic review, [PERSON] et al. explained the potential of curcumin and other spices against SARS-COV-2 due to their anti-inflammatory properties to inhibit the cytokine storm [70]. Interestingly, curcumin has demonstrated antiviral activity against the SARS-CoV-2 by disrupting the binding of the spike protein to the ACE2 receptor and preventing the virus from entering cells. This group also found that curcumin positively regulates the action of the antioxidant molecule NRF2 while negatively regulating the master inflammatory molecule HMGB1 [71]. These findings suggest that turmeric and its main phytochemical curcumin could not only be a potential treatment but also a prevention alternative for viral infections. * Antibacterial  
There are also reports showing the antibacterial activity of turmeric [37]. [PERSON] et al. developed an alginate-based drug delivery system of turmeric extract and tested its activity against _Staphylococcus aureus_ (Gram-positive) and _Escherichia coli_ (Gram-negative). The results showed that this turmeric drug delivery system affected both strains. However, there was more prominent growth inhibition on the Gram-positive bacteria than on the Gram-negative [72]. Another study performed by [PERSON], and colleagues elucidated the antimicrobial potential of turmeric extract against several Gram-positive strains (one strain of _Staphylococcus epidermidis_ and two strains of _Bacillus subtilis_), revealing that the different fractions of this extract can inhibit bacterial growth [37]. In the same way, [PERSON] et al. confirmed that Gram-positive bacteria are more sensitive to curcumin than Gram-negative bacteria due to their abundant hydrophilic lipopolysaccharidesaccharide's outer membrane [73]. * Antifungal  
Another significant effect of turmeric is its antifungal activity. [PERSON] et al. showed that turmeric extracts have potent antifungal activity against 20 pathogenic fungi (e.g., _Fusarium verticillioides_, _Curvularia pallescens_, _Coletotrichum falcatum_, _Apergillus niger_, _Apergillus terreus_, _Fusarium oxysporum_, _Fusarium monilforme_, _Fusarium graminearum_, _Phoma wasabiae_, _Alternaria alternate_, _Botrytis cinerea_, _Chaetomium olivaceum_, _Penicillium pallidum_, _Mycogene peniciosa_, and _Verticillium dahalia_ by disrupting the synthesis of the main components of the fungal cell wall and interfering the protein synthesis. From this study, phytochemicals in turmeric have better antifungal activity working in combination than individual compounds [74]. [PERSON] and colleagues elucidated that turmeric extracts exhibit a potent anticandidal effect against _Candida albicans_ on in vitro studies [75].