Product Description

Curcuminoids are polyphenolic pigments found in the spice turmeric. The term turmeric is used both for the plant Curcuma longa L. and the spice derived from the rhizomes of the plant. The major curcuminoids are curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin. These substances comprise 3 to 6% of Curcuma longa. Curcumin makes up *0 to *5% of the curcuminoids, demethoxycurcumin *5 to *0% and bisdemethoxycurcumin about 3%.

Curcuma longa is a tropical plant native to south and southeast tropical Asia. It is a member of the ginger or Zingiberaceae family. Turmeric is widely consumed in the countries of origin for a variety of uses, including use as a dietary spice, as a dietary pigment and as an Indian folk medicine for the treatment of various illnesses. It is also used in Hindu religious ceremonies in one form or another as part of the religious rites.

Curcuminoids are responsible for the yellow color of turmeric, as well as the yellow color of curry.

Curcuminoids are derived from turmeric by extraction with ethanol. Curcumin is the most studied of the curcuminoids. In pure form, it is an orange-yellow, crystalline powder that is insoluble in water. It is also known as diferuloylmethane and turmeric yellow. Its chemical name is (E, E) *1, *-bis(*-hydroxy**- methoxyphenyl)*1,*-heptadiene*3, 5 dione. The molecular formula of curcumin is C*1H*0O6, its molecular weight is **8.*9 daltons.