Curcumin

Synonyms: Curcumin, Diferuloylmethane, Turmeric Yellow, Natural Yellow 3, C.I. 75300, (E,E)-1,7-Bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione

Curcumin is the principal curcuminoid of turmeric, the golden-yellow rhizome of Curcuma longa L. that has anchored South Asian cooking and Ayurvedic medicine for well over two thousand years. In the traditional system it was applied as an anti-inflammatory and wound-healing agent; today the same molecule sits at the center of a global market spanning dietary supplements, functional beverages, and pharmaceutical research. What changed is not the chemistry but the demand for a defined, reproducible grade of the compound rather than a crude spice powder.

Chemically, curcumin is a symmetrical diferuloylmethane — two ferulic acid units joined by a seven-carbon chain that carries both the conjugated dienone system and the two phenolic rings responsible for most of its reported bioactivity. It rarely exists alone in nature: turmeric oleoresin typically contains curcumin alongside demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin, and commercial material is usually expressed as total curcuminoids. Standardized curcumin at 95% or 98% is therefore a purification product, not a simple extract, and the ratio between the three curcuminoids is a useful quality marker for buyers who need batch-to-batch consistency.

The molecule’s weak points are well known to formulators. It is practically insoluble in water, degrades quickly under alkaline conditions, and shows poor oral bioavailability unless paired with piperine, phospholipids, or a delivery system such as micelles or nanoparticles. Light and oxygen sensitivity also mean that storage and packaging choices matter as much as the assay value on the COA. For these reasons, most industrial buyers specify curcumin by HPLC purity, curcuminoid profile, and heavy-metal limits rather than by botanical origin alone.

Funktion

• Antioxidant activity: Scavenges free radicals and supports endogenous antioxidant enzymes.
• Anti-inflammatory action: Modulates NF-κB and COX-2 pathways in published in vitro and animal models.
• Bioavailability enhancement: Frequently complexed with piperine, phospholipids, or cyclodextrins for oral formulations.
• Colorant function: Used as a natural yellow pigment in foods and beverages under the designation Natural Yellow 3.
• Research applications: Common positive control in studies on oxidative stress, metabolic health, and joint function.

Source & Standardization

• Quelle: Dried rhizome of Curcuma longa L., primarily cultivated in India, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
• Extraction: Solvent extraction of turmeric oleoresin followed by crystallization and purification.
• Standardization: ≥95% or ≥98% total curcuminoids by HPLC, with defined demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin ratios.
• Forms: Orange-yellow crystalline powder; micronized and water-dispersible grades available on request.
• Anwendungen: Dietary supplements, functional foods and beverages, natural colorants, cosmetic formulations, and research use.

Technische Daten

Documentation & Supply

• Monthly capacity: 8 MT across 95% and 98% grades.
• Lieferzeit: 3–5 Werktage (Lagerware)
• Dokumentation: COA, MSDS, TDS, allergen statement, and non-GMO declaration issued per batch.
• Verpackung: 25 kg fiber drum with double PE liner; 1 kg foil bag for sampling.
• Lagerung: Keep tightly closed, away from light and moisture, below 25 °C.

Angebotsanfrage

• LyvBio GmbH. — E-Mail: info@lyvbio.com