Curcumin Research

You have reached the page dedicated to the research of curcumin, a secondary plant metabolite and biophenol of interest to the Sturgeon Research Project. This page was created and is maintained by Stephanie Saey and Nadia Ayala.

Curcumin Research Initiative

Curcumin, along with its two derivatives, is a secondary plant metabolite of the turmeric herb 'Curcuma Longa'. A review of curcumin studies suggest curcumin has chemotherapeutic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activity, among other uses to be discovered. The current research project aims to successfully isolate and purify curcumin and its derivatives from the plant turmeric. With MeOH under reflux, the curcuminoids will be extracted 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 Three Curcuminoids

Curcumin (curcumin I), demethoxycurcumin (curcumin II), and bisdemethoxycurcumin (curcumin III) are the three major curcuminoids present in turmeric and of interest to this study. Their respective chemical structures are depicted below: