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Curcumin, also known as turmeric pigment or acid yellow, has a molecular formula of C21H20O6 and a molecular weight of 368.38. It is a natural phenolic antioxidant extracted from the rhizomes of ginger plants such as turmeric (containing 3-6% curcumin), curcuma, mustard, curry, and turmeric. Its main chain consists of unsaturated aliphatic and aromatic groups, and its structure is diarylheptane. It is both a diketone compound and a rare pigment in the plant kingdom with a diketone structure.
Curcumin is an orange yellow crystalline powder with a special odor and slightly bitter taste. Insoluble in water and ether, soluble in ethanol, acetone, glacial acetic acid, and propylene glycol, slightly soluble in ether with light green fluorescence; Under alkaline conditions, it appears reddish brown, under acidic conditions, it appears light yellow, and when dissolved in concentrated sulfuric acid, it appears yellowish red. It also forms chelates with metal ions and changes color.
The extraction methods of curcumin include alcohol extraction, acid-base method, enzyme method, etc; Refining methods include polyamide adsorption, acetic acid precipitation, recrystallization, etc; The analysis methods include thin-layer scanning, high-performance liquid chromatography, Coulomb titration, etc.
Due to its anti-tumor, antioxidant, antibacterial, hepatoprotective, and lipid-lowering effects, curcumin is widely used in fields such as medicine, food, aquaculture (feed), and daily chemical products.