Curcumin

Effectiveness: Blood Glucose and Cholesterol Maintenance；Anti-Inflammation；Anti-Cancer

Plant of origin: Turmeric (Rhizoma Curcumae Longae)

Molecular Formula: C₂₁H₂₀O₆

Molecular Mass:  368.38

CAS No.: 458-37-7

Constitutional Formula:  

Appearance: Orange-Yellow crystalline powder

Specification: 1%, 10%, 95% by HPLC

Density:0.93

Melting point: 183 ºC

Refractive index: 1.4155-1.4175

Solube parameter:slight solube in water

Curcumin is the principal curcuminoid of the popular Indian spice turmeric, which is a member of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae). Turmerics other two curcuminoids are desmethoxycurcumin and bis-desmethoxycurcumin. The curcuminoids are natural phenols, and are responsible for the yellow color of turmeric. Curcumin can exist in several tautomeric forms, including a 1,3-diketo form and two equivalent enol forms. The enol form is more energetically stable in the solid phase and in solution。  

Function: 

1. Anti-oxidant effects. 

2. Anti-oxidant effects

3.Anti-inflammatory effects, yet it does not irritate the stomach as do many Cox-2 inhibitors. 
4. Anti-dyspepsia effects; 
5. Breaks up Alzheimers amyloid-beta oligomers and aggregates in laboratory studies. We await clinical trials in humans. 
6. Anti-platelet effects; 
7. Causes apoptosis (death) of various malignant cell types including skin, colon, forestomach, duodenum and ovary in laboratory studies. We await clinical trials in humans. 
8. Anti-viral effects; 
9.Anti-fungal effects; 
10. Anti-bacterial effects (inhibits Helicobacter Pylori); 
11. Inhibits NFkappaB, 5-lipoxygenase, glutathione S-transferase and cytochrome P-450 isoenzyme 1A1. 
12. Health benefits of the spice Turmeric: a study of the elderly in Singapore demonstrated a positive connection between turmeric/curry consumption and cognitive function. Those who ate curry often (more than once a month) or ate it occasionally (once or more in 6 months) performed significantly better at the Mini-Mental State Examination than did those who ate curry less than once a month. (American Journal of Epidemiology 11/2006.)