Difference between revisions of "Stephanie Saey Chem430 F16"

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Chemistry/Biochemistry Research 430

Fall 2016

Stephanie Saey

Junior Biochemistry and Biopsychology Double Major

Research Times

Mon: 12-2pm Th: 11-1pm

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.

Instruments to be used

Distillation 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.

Written Report

1. Descriptive information

Isolation and Purification of Curcuminoids from Tumeric Plant Curcuma Longa

Stephanie Saey, Nadia Ayala, and Bradley E. Sturgeon#

Special thanks to Michael Prinsell and Broddie Davis

Research work documented in lab notebooks, Stephanie Saey pages 1-13 and Nadia Ayala pages [insert NA page#].

2. Introduction

Turmeric, Curcuma longa, is a traditional Indian spice with potential chemotherapeutic, pharmacological, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidative properties (Goel, 2008). The active component in turmeric, known as curcumin, is what allows the plant to house its well-documented health benefits. Curcumin has three derivatives (I/II/III) of different molecular structures: curcumin I, demethoxycurcumin (II), and bisdemethoxycurcumin (III). Taken together, these structures are referred to as curcuminoids. Due to the safety and availability of turmeric, many studies have reported techniques for isolating and purifying the curcuminoids through methods such as extraction coupled with column chromatography (Jayaprakasha). However, to date, no such methods have been used to prepare large amounts of each curcuminoid individually. Curcumin I is only available in small amounts, while II and III remain unavailable commercially. The current research project aims to successfully isolate (methanol in soxhlet), purify (flash chromatography/HPLC), and characterize (NMR) the curcuminoids in amounts large enough for further investigation.

3. Background from earlier reports

Stephanie Saey and Nadia Ayala are the first Monmouth College Chemistry students to work on this specific research project involving turmeric.

4. Experimental

Sourcing turmeric:

In order to proceed with the proposed research project, we needed to purchase turmeric from a reliable, science-conscious company. We chose to order 1 lb of organic and 1 lb of non-organic turmeric from Starwest Botanicals here.

Methanol in Soxhlet Extraction:

1. Soxhlet apparatus was set up for extraction, as pictured in Image A.

2. Approximately 76 grams of organic turmeric from Starwest Botanicals was added to the thimble.

3. Approximately 350 mL of MeOH was added to the stillpot and a few boiling stones were added.

4. Heat source and water source were turned on.

5. Extraction was ran for 6 hours.

Image A: soxhlet extraction

Removal of MeOH and Impurities:

1. MeOH/curcuminoid mixture in the stillpot (from extraction) was transferred to an 1000mL separatory funnel.

2. 275 mL of ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and 150 mL of water were added to the funnel, along with 150 mL brine solution.

3. The stopcock was added to the funnel and the mixture was inverted and vented multiple times for 1 minute.

4. The stopcock was removed, allowing the mixture to separate into two separate phases, one containing EtOAc and curcuminoids, and the other containing MeOH, water, and impurities. Image B displays this separated mixture.

5. The EtOAc/curcuminioid phase (top layer) was drained into a labeled glassware container.

6.The bottom layer was readded to the separatory funnel along with 150 mL of EtAOc, 150 mL water, and 100 mL brime.

7. Again, the stopcock was added to the funnel and the mixture was inverted and vented multiple times for 1 minute.

8. The stopcock was removed and the mixture was allowed to separate.

9. The top layer was added to the labeled glassware and the bottom layer was discarded.

Image B: Separation of EtOAc and curcuminoids (top layer) from MeOH and impurities (bottom layer)

Thin Layer Chromatography

A 5x10cm RediSep silica TLC plate was used to run TLC on the EtOAc/curcuminoid extract. First, 45 mL of the extract was diluted in 25 mL of ethyl acetate. A thin pencil line was drawn horizontally approximately 1.5 cm from the bottom of the plate. Two dots of the diluted extract were placed 4 cm apart on this line in order to conduct two trials on the same plate. An 8:1 chloroform:acetone solvent mixture was used. The fractions were allowed to follow the solvent up the plate and the results were imaged as shown in Figure A. Final Rf values were recorded.

Flash Column Chromatography:

A 15.5mL(13g) C18 Column was used to run 1mL of the EtOAc/curcuminoid extract. This column uses acetyl nitrile and water to run the liquid phase through the column.

A gradient was ran for 25 min that yielded three distinct peaks. The eluents for each peak were collected and stored in separate viles.

High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC):

Each Flash eluent was added to a separate HPLC vile. Additionally, a "standard" was made by diluting 1 mL of the original EtOAc/curcuminoid mixture in 4 mL EtOAc. 1mL of the resulting dilution was placed into its on HPLC vile. The HPLC was run for 20 minutes under bes method .... [methods for this portion to be continued when I am able to refer back to the HPLC data...the HPLC is currently under repair].

Preparation for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Testing:

The flash chromatography eluents were each added to their own 50 mL rbf and separately rotovapped for approximately 1 hour and 20 min to remove solvent.

5. Results

TLC results

TLC results from two trials of the diluted EtOAc/curcuminoid mixture (prepared from MeOH in soxhlet extraction) are shown in Figure A. A RediSep silica TLC plate was used with an 8:1 chloroform:acetone solvent front. Three distinct lines are visible for each trial, consistent with the three different curcuminoid structures. Rf values are as follows (same for each trial): .25, .375, .5.

Figure A: TLC Results

6. Discussion

The flash chromatography and HPLC data have been consistent with the literature regarding the existence of curcumin's three different molecular structures.

7. Conclusions

No final conclusions have been reached at this point, as we are still waiting to collect NMR results. The results of the NMR should tell us how successful our method was in isolating and purifying curcuminoids I,II, and III.

8. Future Directions

We plan to continue this research project into the second semester of the 2016-17 school year (and beyond). First on our agenda will be to collect NMR data on the three separate curcuminoids 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.

9. Literature references