Curcumin

In the presence of Cu(II) curcumin caused strand cleavage in DNA through generation of reactive oxygen species, particularly HO and H2O2 

Translocation of the transcription factor NF- B in A549 epithelial cells, caused by carcinogenic SiC fibres (60.86 % 10 [tm 27.6 % 20 pm) could be significantly reduced by adding 50 p,M curcumin to the culture medium (Brown et al. 1999). 

Generation of O2 was inhibited by curcumin, when blood neutrophils from rhesus monkeys were stimulated with arachidonic acid, serum treated zymosan and N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl alanine (Srivastava 1989). 

In a p53 null human oral squamous carcinoma cell line curcumin (5 pM and (10 pM) arrested growth in S/G2 which was confirmed with an increased bromodeoxyuridine labelling (Weir and Hague 2002). Treated cells showed increased 

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Curcumin (indicator) prepare a saturated aqueous solution pH range yellow 6.0-8.0 brownish red. 

Two colorimetric methods are recommended for boron analysis. One is the curcumin method, where the sample is acidified and evaporated after addition of curcumin reagent. A red product called rosocyanine remains it is dissolved in 95 wt % ethanol and measured photometrically. Nitrate concentrations >20 mg/L interfere with this method. Another colorimetric method is based upon the reaction between boron and carminic acid in concentrated sulfuric acid to form a bluish-red or blue product. Boron concentrations can also be deterrnined by atomic absorption spectroscopy with a nitrous oxide—acetjiene flame or graphite furnace. Atomic emission with an argon plasma source can also be used for boron measurement. 

Borate reacts with curcumin [458-37-7] C2 H2qO, in the presence of a mineral acid to give a colored 1 2 bore acid curcumin complex that has been used to determine microamounts of boron. Carrninic acid [1260-17-9J, C22H2QO23, (98) and azomethine-H (99) also form a colored complex usehil for low level detection of borates. Boron compounds give a characteristic green color when burned in a flame. 

The principal coloring matter in turmeric and its oleoresin is curcumin [458-37-7] (l,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione, l,7-bis[4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl] (45), an orange-yeUow, crystalline powder, insoluble in water and ether but soluble in ethanol and glacial acetic acid. It has a reported melting point of 180-183°C. 

The yellow dye curcumin, [458-37-7] (Cl Natural Ye//oii> 3 Cl 75300) (41), also known as tumeric, occurs in the roots of the plant Curcuma tinctoria found growing wild in Asia. The dye was well known to the ancient Romans and Greeks who used it to dye wool, cotton, and silk. The dye is an oil-soluble bright yellow material, and is the only natural yellow dye that requires no mordant. It finds use as a colorant for baked goods such as cakes. 

The 2-alkyl group of 2-alkylisoxazolium salts is also susceptible to a -deprotonation. For example, treatment of 3,5-distyrylisoxazolium salt (199) with potassium methoxide followed by acid hydrolysis gave the natural /3-diketone curcumine (77H(7)24l). 

Curcumin is the main color found in the root of the turmeric plant Curcuma longa, grown in south Asia. 

KHAFIF A, SCHANTZ s P, CHOU T c, EDELSTEIN D and SACKS P G (1998) Quantitation of chemopreventive synergism between epigallocatechin gallate and curcumin in normal, premalignant, and malignant oral epithelial cells . Carcinogenesis, 19, 419-24. 

Regarding the data concerning the stability of curcumin in solution, it is advisable to perform extraction under acidic conditions and to avoid direct light exposure. However, it will also depend on the material from which curcumin has to be extracted. 

Wang, Y.J. et al., Stability of curcumin in buffer solutions and characterization of its degradation products, J. Pharm. Biomed. Anal, 15, 1867, 1997. 

Oetari, S. et al., Effects of curcumin on cytochrome P450 and glutathione S-trans-ferase activities in rat liver, Biochem. Pharmacol., 51, 39, 1996. 

Tonnesen, H.H. and Karlsen, J., Studies on curcumin and curcuminoids. VI. Kinetics of curcumin degradation in aqueous solution, Z. Lebensm. Unters. Forsch., 180, 402, 1985. 

Sun, X. et al., Capillary electrophoresis with amperometric detection of curcumin in Chinese herbal medicine pretreated by solid-phase extraction, J. Chromatogr. A, 962, 117, 2002. 

Pan, M.H. et al.. Biotransformation of curcumin through reduction and glucuronida-tion in mice. Drug. Metab. Dispos., 27, 486, 1999. 

Garcea, G. et al.. Detection of curcumin and its metabolites in hepatic tissue and portal blood of patients following oral administration, Br. J. Cancer, 90, 1011, 2004. 

Ireson, C. et al.. Characterization of metabolites of the chemopreventive agent curcumin in human and rat hepatocytes and in the rat in vivo, and evaluation of their ability to inhibit phorbol ester-induced prostaglandin E2 production. Cancer Res., 61, 1058, 2001. 

Pak, Y. et al.. Sensitive and rapid isocratic liquid chromatography method for the quantitation of curcumin in plasma, J Chromatogr B Analyt. Technol. Biomed. Life ScL, 796, 339, 2003. 

May, L.A. et al.. Detection and quantitation of curcumin in mouse lung cell cultures by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry. Anal. Biochem., 337, 62, 2005. 

Navas-Diaz, A. and Ramos-Peinado, M.C., Fluorometric determination of curcumin in yogurt and mustard, J. Agric. Food Chem., 40, 56, 1992. 

Jayaprakasha, G.K. et al., Improved HPLC method for the determination of curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin, J. Agric. Food Chem., 50, 3668, 2002. 

Heath, D.D. et ah, Curcumin in plasma and urine quantitation by high-performance liquid chromatography, J. Chromatogr. BAnalyt. Technol. Biomed. Life ScL,7S3, 287, 2003. 

The purpose of this chapter is to provide an overview of our present knowledge about the health benehts of pigments, particularly their effects on chronic diseases. We examine the effects of lipophilic (carotenoids, chlorophylls) and hydrophilic pigments (anthocyanins and flavones-flavonols), and curcumin. Descriptive and mechanistic studies are reviewed in regard to common chronic diseases. 

Curcumin (diferuloyl methane) is the main pigment of turmeric. It is widely used as a colorant and preservative agent. No data regarding its daily intake in western countries are available intake may reach 80 to 200 mg in adult Indians. To date, no study has explored the effect of curcumin consumption on the incidence of diseases, but many beneficial effects on health have been reported in cell and animal models. These include anti-carcinogenic, anti-diabetic, anti-atherosclerotic, and anti-Alzheimer s disease properties. ... 

The most convincing data have been obtained from rodent models of cancers that revealed protective effects of curcumin against cancers of aU sites. Curcumin is able to inhibit all steps of cancer processes, initiation, progression, and promotion. These observations, combined with the apparent lack of toxicity of curcumin for doses up to 8 g/day for 3 mo suggest potential uses of curcumin as an anti-carcinogenic chemoprotective agent. ... 

Curcumin possesses strong antioxidant capacities, which may explain its effects against degenerative diseases in which oxidative stress plays a major role. As previously described for flavonoids, it is unlikely that curcumin acts as a direct antioxidant outside the digestive tract since its concentration in peripheral blood and organs is very low (near or below 1 pM, even after acute or long-term supplementation). Indeed, it has been shown that the intestinal epithelium limits its entry into the body, as reflected by absorption studies in various models (portal blood perfusion, everted bags). ... 

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