• The ethanol extracts of twelve Curcuma species rhizomes exhibit different antimicrobial activities. • The ethanol extracts of certain Curcuma species show good antioxidative activity. • The extracts of Curcuma aromatica rhizomes have strong anti-inflammation on TPA induced mice ear edema via down-regulating the expression of inflammatory cytokines. Curcuma species as elements in traditional Chinese medicines play important roles in anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antirheumatic and antiviral activities. The bioactivities of ethanol extracts of 12 Curcuma species rhizomes were explored in this study. Most of these ethanol extracts showed excellent antioxidant activities, and the C. sichuanensis extracts (0.66 μM TE/mg EE) exhibited the best activities. These extracts not only had good antimicrobial activity against gram-negative bacteria (C. kwangsiensis var. nanlingensis , MIC=275.65 μg/ml), gram-positive bacteria (C. phaeocaulis , MIC=285. 52 μg/ml) and fungus (C. longa , MIC=80.87 μg/ml), but also revealed anti-inflammatory activities (C. aromatica , 42.6% inhibition at 100 mg/kg) suppressing the expression of TPA-stimulated inflammatory cytokines, COX-2 and TNF-α. Consequently, some Curcuma species can be used as natural antioxidants, antimicrobial or anti-inflammatory agents in functional foods, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]