Turmeric extraction

The choice of the method of analysis depends on the question to address. Spectrophotometry is sufficient for total curcuminoid content determination in a turmeric extract. Separation techniques coupled to mass spectrometry detection and MALDl-TOF are highly sensitive techniques that are more adapted to the identification of metabolites in biological fluids such as urine or plasma. ... 

A careful interpretation of the spectra allowed the identification of monoacetate and diacetate derivatives of curcumin [26] in the turmeric extract, as well as of nineteen other diarylheptanoids, including twelve not reported until that time. [25]... 

Processors make annatto colors available as a refined powder, soluble in water at pH values above 4.0 (solubility about 10 grams in 100 milliliters of distilled water at 25°C). in an acid-soluble form, in an oil-soluble form, in a water- and oil-soluble form, and in a variety of hues ranging from delicate yellows to hearty orange. Annatto extract is frequently mixed with turmeric extract to obtain various hues. 

Table 16.1. Perhaps the first in vivo study to report the anticancer activity of curcumin was by Kuttan et al. in 1985. In this study the authors demonstrated, using an ascites mice model of Dalton s lymphoma, that both curcumin and turmeric extract could reduce the development of animal tumors [Kuttan et al., 1985]. Several reports have been published supporting the efficacy of curcumin treatment against cancer.

Several spices possess antioxidative properties — a turmeric extract (curcuminoid), a hexane extract of rosemary, and the a-tocopherol-supplemented capsicum pigment exhibit their antioxidative effects in vivo by dietary supplementation. Turmeric extract has demonstrated the ability to reduce liver triacylglycerol deposition as well as cholesterol. 

Asai et al. (1999) determined that phospholipid hydroperoxides (PLOOH) are key products for oxidative injury in membranous phospholipid layers in the plasma, red blood cells (RBC), and liver of mice. The formation and accumulation of PLOOH have been confirmed in several cellular disorders, various diseases, and in aging. A lower PLOOH level was found in RBC of the spice-extract-fed mice (65 to 74% of the nonsupplemented control mice). The liver lipid peroxidizability induced with Fe2+/ascorbic acid was effectively suppressed in mice by dietary supplementation with the turmeric and capsicum extracts. Although no difference in the plasma lipids was observed, the liver triacylglycerol concentration of the turmeric-extract-fed mice was markedly reduced to half of the level in the control mice. These findings suggest that these spice extracts could act antioxidatively in vivo by food supplementation, and that the turmeric extract has the ability to prevent the deposition of triacylglycerols in the liver. 

Curcuminoids and other constituents of turmeric are well known for their antiinflammatory activity. Turmeric extract, volatile oils from turmeric and curcuminoids were reported to possess this property in different experimental models of inflammation in mice, rats, rabbits and pigeons (Arora et ah, 1971 Ghatak and Basu, 1972 Chandra and Gupta, 1972). Thus, curcuminoids are effective against carrageenan-induced oedema in rats (Srivastava et al.,... 

Deshpande, S.S., Ingle, A.D., and Mam, G.B., Chemopreventive efficacy of curcumin-free aqueous turmeric extract in 7,12-dimethylbenz[a] anthracene-induced rat mammary tumorigenesis. Cancer Lett., 123, 35, 1998. 

Margarine is colored with carotenoids, and synthetic p-carotene is by far the most widely used. Carotene dissolves very slowly in oil. Therefore, the compound is pulverized to a particle size of 2-5 pm and the microcrystals are suspended in oil to retard oxidation (228). Natural extracts containing carotenoids, for example, annatto (bixin), carrot oil, and red palm oil also have been used. Annatto, which is used in butter, is somewhat sensitive to light and may have an orange or slightly pink hue, particularly when the aqueous phase is acid (4). Mixtures of annatto and turmeric extracts result in a more typical color than annatto alone (229). Many margarine manufacturers purchase blends of colors and vitamins customized for their specific products. 

Aqueous extracts of turmeric, curcumin-free aqueous turmeric extract, and curcumin were tested for... 

Azuine MA, Kayal JJ. Bhide SV. 1992. Protective role of aqueous turmeric extract against mutagenicity of direct-acting carcinogens as well as benzo [alpha] pyrene-induced genotoxicity and carcinogenicity. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 118(6) 447-452. 

ESI-MS has also been successfully applied to determination of the molecular structure of other non-water-soluble pigments such as the polyphe-nolic yellow molecules contained in turmeric extracted from the rhizome of Curcuma longa (He et al., 1998). 

Ramirez-Tortosa, M.C., Mesa, M.D., Aguilera, M.C., Quiles, J.L., Baro, L., Ramirez-Tortosa, C.L., Martinez-Victoria, E., and Gil, A., Oral administration of a turmeric extract inhibits LDL oxidation and has hypocholesterolemic effects in rabbits with experimental atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis, 147 (2), 371-378,1999. 

In a dose escalation study of single doses of a standardized turmeric extract (95% curcuminoids), healthy volunteers were administered doses from 0.5 to 8 g. Tolerance was reported as excellent at all dose levels. Adverse events, including yellow stool, diarrhea, headache, and rash, were reported at doses of 1 g and above (Lao et al. 2006). In a dose... 

The compound curcumin exhibited significant antiplatelet activity in vitro, causing inhibition of arachidonic acid-, collagen- and ADP-induced platelet aggregation with IC50 values of 13.8, 22.4, and 16.8 pM, respectively (Jantan et al. 2007). Inhibition of arachidonate-induced platelet aggregation was observed in human blood platelets treated with turmeric extract (Srivastava 1989). In a similar study, curcumin... 

The LD50 of orally administered turmeric oleoresin in mice and rats could not be determined at doses up to 10 g/kg (Francis 2002). No toxic effects were observed after rats, guinea pigs, and monkeys were administered 2.5 g/kg turmeric powder or 0.3 g/kg of an alcoholic turmeric extract (Shankar et al. 1980). No apparent toxicity of the compound curcumin was observed in rats administered doses up to 5 g/kg (Wahlstrom and Blennow 1978). 

In mice administered 100 mg/kg daily of a concentrated turmeric extract for 90 days, a significant increase in heart, lung, and caudae epididymis weights were observed (Qureshi et al. 1992). 

Deshpande, S.S., V.S. LaUtha, A.D. Ingle, et al. 1998. Subchronic oral toxicity of turmeric and ethanolic turmeric extract in female mice and rats. Toxicol. Lett. 95(3) 183-193. 

Shah, R.G., and M.S. Netrawali. 1988. Evaluation of mutagenic activity of turmeric extract containing curcumin, before and after activation with mammalian cecal microbial extract of Uver microsomal fraction, in the Ames Salmonella test. Bull. Env. Contam. Toxicol. 40(3) 350-357. 

Synonyms Curcuma domestica extract Curcuma longa Curcuma longa extract Turmeric extract... 

Turmeric extract. See Turmeric (Curcuma longa) extract... 

Daily administration of curcuminoids (0.5 g) to healthy human volunteers produced a 33% reduction in blood lipid peroxide levels (Soni and Kuttan 1992). This was accompanied by an increase in HDL cholesterol and a decrease in total serum cholesterol as a result of curcumin administration (500 mg/day for 7 days) (Quiles etal. 2002). The reduction in serum lipid peroxides and cholesterol suggests the potential of curcumin against arterial diseases. Supplementation with turmeric extract reduced oxidative stress and attenuated the development of atherosclerotic fatty streaks in rabbits fed on a high-cholesterol diet (Quiles etal. 2002). 

Oxidation of LDL plays an important role in the development of atherosclerosis. Turmeric extract decreased the susceptibility of LDL to lipid peroxidation, thus suggesting its value in the management of cardiovascular disease (Ramirez-Tortosa et al. 1999). In healthy hiunans, the daily intake of 200 mg of turmeric extract resulted in a decrease in total blood lipid peroxides as well as in HDL- and LDL-lipid peroxidation (Miquel et al. 2002). The beneficial influence of dietary curciunin on the susceptibility of LDL to oxidation was examined in an animal study. Dietary curcumin significantly inhibited the in vivo iron-induced LDL oxidation as well as copper-induced oxidation of LDL in vitro (Manjunatha and Srinivasan 2006). 

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