VALIDATED METHOD FOR ESTIMATION OF CURCUMIN FROM DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF CURCUMA LONGA

Abstract

Curcumin, the active molecule present in Curcuma longa is known for its antitumour, antioxidant, antiarthritic, anti-amyloid, anti-ischemic, anti-inflammatory activities. In addition, it may also be effective in treating malaria, prevention of cervical cancer, etc. High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) method has been employed for determination of curcumin in four varieties of turmeric and compared with standard curcumin. The HPTLC separation was performed on precoated aluminium backed HPTLC plates of 0.2 mm layer thickness with silica gel 60 F254 chloroform: methanol (9.5:0.5) employed as mobile phase for the identification and quantification of Curcuminoids in the turmeric varieties. The plate was developed up to 80 mm at temperature of   20 ± 4^oC for 10 min. of chamber saturation. The proposed method may be useful as an accurate, simple, cost effective and sensitive for quantitative estimation of curcumin in Curcuma longa extracts.