What is "curculin"

Curculin is a sweet protein that was discovered and isolated in 1990 from the fruit of Curculigo latifolia ( Hypoxidaceae), a plant from Malaysia. Like miraculin, curculin exhibits taste-modifying activity; however, unlike miraculin, it also exhibits a sweet taste by itself. After consumption of curculin, water and sour solutions taste sweet. The plant is referred to locally as 'Lumbah' or 'Lemba'.