Stephanie Saey BIOC430 F17

Chemistry/Biochemistry Research 430

Spring 2017

Stephanie Saey

Junior Biochemistry and Biopsychology Double Major

For more information about the student: Stephanie Saey

Research Times

Tue: 9am-11am Th: 10am-12pm

section 01 = 0.25 credit = 4 hours per week.

Proposed Research Project

General Information

Advisor: Dr. Brad Sturgeon

Other research student collaborators: Nadia Ayala

Proposal: Preparation of Curcuminoid Standards from Turmeric Plant

Curcumin is a secondary plant metabolite of the turmeric herb Curcuma longa. The term "curcumin" has been used to refer to the bioactive molecule, but in reality curcumin has three derivatives of different molecular structures: curcumin I, demethoxycurcumin (II), and bisdemethoxycurcumin (III). Together, these structures are known as curcuminoids. A review of curcumin studies suggest curcuminoids have chemotherapeutic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activity, among other uses to be discovered. However, difficulty arises when seeking to study the derivatives of curcumin individually. Curcumin I is only available in small amounts, while demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin remain unavailable commercially. The current research project aims to successfully isolate, purify, and characterize the curcuminoids in amounts large enough for further investigation. Using MeOH and a soxhlet apparatus, the curcuminoids will be extracted from turmeric and subsequently subjected to Flash Chromatography for separation. Once the curcuminoids are separated, NMR data collection will take place to compare the chemical properties of each derivative. The process will be repeated multiple times to prepare substantial standards of the curcuminoids.

This research project began in the Fall of 2016. We have extracted the curcuminoids from turmeric via soxhlet extraction and used the Flash Chromatography system to separate them. HPLC data indicates we have three different compounds, but we need to ensure the different compounds we are seeing are, in fact, the three curcuminoids. First on our agenda will be to collect NMR data on the three separate compounds that were rotovapped from the separate flash eluents. NMR data will be collected both at Monmouth College and Knox College. Results will indicate the success of our methods, and lead us to either additional method development or mass quantification using the latest method.

Instruments to be used

Soxhlet Apparatus, TLC materials, Flash Chromotography System, HPLC, NMR

References

Goel A., Kunnumakkara A.B., Aggarwal B.B. (2008). Curcumin as ‘curecumin’: from kitchen to clinic. Biochem Pharmacology. pp. 787–809, doi:10.1016/j.bcp.2007.08.016

Jayaprakasha, G. K., Gowda, G. A. N., Marquez, S., & Patil, B. S. (2013). Rapid separation and quantitation of curcuminoids combining pseudo two dimensional liquid flash chromatography and NMR spectroscopy. Journal of Chromatography. B, Analytical Technologies in the Biomedical and Life Sciences, pp. 937, doi:10.1016/j.jchromb.2013.08.011

Kiuchi, F, Goyto, Y, Sugimoto, N, Akao, N, Kondo, K, Tsuda, Y. Nematocidal activity of turmeric: synergistic action of curcuminoids. (1993). Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) pp. 1640-3.

Research pledge

I, Stephanie Saey, have read the Chem/Bioc 430 course syllabus and understand the general structure and expectations of the research program. The above material was prepared after consultation, and in conjunction with my research advisor, Dr. Brad Sturgeon.