All that glitters is not gold - An inside look into Curcumin

The most important ingredient of turmeric is curcuminoids. The pharmacological activity of turmeric has been attributed mainly to curcuminoids consisting of curcumin (CUR) and two related compounds demethoxy curcumin (DMC) and bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC). The concentration of these curcuminoids varies depending on the rhizome source and climatic conditions. Typically, it varies between CUR (70-80%), DMC (10-20%), and BDMC (3-6%).

Curcuminoids, which are found mostly in the roots and rhizomes of turmeric plants, are the predominant physiologically active polyphenolic ingredient of turmeric, exhibiting beneficial physiological and pharmacological actions.

Curcuminoids have emerged as a potential therapeutic interest for the treatment of immune-related and metabolic diseases due to their wide range of biological targets and extensive biological activity as an antioxidant, neuroprotective, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-acidogenic, and radioprotective.

It has numerous benefits, preventing protein glycosylation and decreasing lipid peroxidation in high glucose levels, reducing hyperlipidemia, delaying cataracts, and treating coronary artery disease. The two other curcuminoids have similar functions. bisdemethoxycurcumin enhances tissue remodeling for dietetic wound healing. Demethoxycurcumin is a promising ingredient of functional food for the prevention or amelioration of complications due to type-2 diabetes

Curcumin is an oil and fat-soluble molecule, therefore taking it with a fatty meal improves absorption. It is insoluble at RT?in water at acidic and neutral pH. Because it is insoluble in water, several formulations have been devised to improve solubility or dispersibility, hence increasing bioavailability.

Curcumin is a concentrated form of turmeric that contains 95% pure curcuminoids or just curcumin. C-14 analysis can be a reliable method for detecting adulteration in natural curcumin. Synthetic curcumin is derived from a petrochemical substance and does not have the isotope of c-14, but natural curcumin has a radioactive isotope of carbon.

Curcumin supplied by Bio-Med Ingredients contains curcumin, demethoxy curcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin. For more details on authentic natural curcumin write to [email protected] or visit www.biomedingredients.com