Curcumin

Source and Occurrence of Curcumin

• Curcumin is the principal curcuminoid found in Turmeric (Curcuma longa), a member of the ginger family.
• It is responsible for turmeric’s bright yellow color and has extensive applications in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Isolation

1. Extraction:

   • Solvent Extraction: Dried turmeric rhizomes are powdered and extracted with ethanol, methanol, or acetone to obtain curcumin.

2. Purification:

   • Liquid-Liquid Extraction: Partitioning between solvents of different polarities to isolate curcumin.
   • Recrystallization: Curcumin is recrystallized from solvents like acetone or ethanol to achieve high purity.

3. Chromatography:

   • Column Chromatography: Utilizing silica gel with solvent systems (e.g., hexane-ethyl acetate) to purify curcumin.
   • High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC): For final purification steps.

Identification

1. Physical Properties:

   • Appearance: Bright yellow crystalline powder.
   • Melting Point: Approximately 183°C.
   • Solubility: Soluble in organic solvents like ethanol, acetone, and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO); sparingly soluble in water.

2. Spectroscopic Techniques:

   • UV-Visible Spectroscopy: Strong absorbance around 420 nm due to conjugated double bonds.
   • IR Spectroscopy: Identifies functional groups such as hydroxyl and methoxy groups.
   • NMR Spectroscopy:
     • ¹H NMR: Reveals signals from aromatic protons, methoxy groups, and aliphatic chains.
     • ¹³C NMR: Confirms the structure of curcumin.
   • Mass Spectrometry: Molecular ion peak at m/z 368 (free base).

3. Chromatographic Techniques:

   • HPLC: Essential for purity assessment and quantification.
   • TLC: Used for monitoring extraction and purification stages.

Analysis

1. Quantitative Analysis:

   • HPLC with UV Detection: Primary method for curcumins quantification in turmeric and formulations.
   • Spectrophotometric Methods: Utilizing specific absorbance characteristics.

2. Quality Control:

   • Ensuring high purity through HPLC profiles.
   • Confirming structural integrity via spectral data.

Applications and Significance of Curcumin

• Curcumins are extensively used as a dietary supplement, food coloring agent, and in traditional medicine.
• It exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, and neuroprotective activities, making it a subject of intense biomedical research.

Click Here to Watch the Best Pharma Videos