High Performance Liquid Chromatographic Analysis of Curcuminoids and Their Photo-oxidative Decomposition Compounds in Curcuma Longa L

Abstract

Photochemical oxidation of curcuminoids such as curcumin, bis-demethoxycurcumin and demethoxycurcumin in dry powder of Curcuma longa L. (zingiberaceae) root and in ethanolic and methanolic extract has been studied. Whatman PartiSphere-5 NH₂ and Whatman Partisphere-5 WCX columns were used to analyze curcuminoids and their degradation products. The curcuminoids were found to be more stable in the dry powder of Curcuma longa L. root than in ethanolic and methanolic extracts. Vanillin, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, ferulic aldehyde, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid and ferulic acid were identified as the oxidation products.