Comparison of Crystalline Curcumin and its Nanoformulation for Bioactivity

Turmeric is known for its numerous medicinal properties, which is primarily attributed to its key constituent, curcuminoids. Turmeric powder contains 1–6% of curcuminoids. Three major forms of curcuminoids viz. Curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin have been reported in turmeric. Despite its huge medical application, poor bioavailability of curcumin due to its low solubility in aqueous environment hinters this wonder molecule's direct application for human health benefit. The study explores the possibility of producing curcumin in nano-scale using top-down approach, and solubilising this in virgin coconut oil so as to increase its bioavailability as well as provide enhanced antioxidant properties. The biochemical analysis of the turmeric powder from the variety IISR-Prabha was carried out and pure curcumin crystals were isolated in large quantity. The purity of isolated curcumin crystals were checked using chemical test, TLC and HPLC and was found that the purity was at par with the standard curcumin available in the market. A detailed protocol for making nano-curcumin was developed using ultra-sonication following top to bottom approach. The parameters viz. Concentration of curcumin, concentration of stabiliser, Tween-80 and the number of pulse cycles were standardised for optimum nano size of curcumin crystals in the resulting solution. SEM images of all the experiments were analysed for arriving at optimum protocol. Solubility of nano-curcumin was tested in water and virgin coconut oil (VCO). The solubility of normal curcumin was too negligible in water when compared to that of nano-curcumin. The solubility of nano-curcumin in VCO was 2.5 times higher than the solubility in water. The stability of nano-curcumin in solution was 50% higher than that of normal curcumin for a period of one hour. The antioxidant activity of nano-curcumin in VCO was found to be 20% better with a lower IC50 value of 74ug/mL. Thus the current study opens new vistas into the future research of curcumin and its application in nano-dimensions.