PURIFICATION AND SEPERATION OF INDIVIDUAL CURCUMINOIDS FROM SPENT TURMERIC OLEORESIN, A BY- PRODUCT FROM CURCUMIN PRODUCTION INDUSTRY

Turmeric, curcuma longa L of Zingiberaceae family is a widely cultivated spice in India and other Asian countries. Turmeric is rich in curcuminoids, and recognized for their broad spectrum of biological activities, curcuminoids vary in chemical structures, physico-chemical characteristics as well as the functional properties. This study focused on separation of individual curcuminoids from spent turmeric oleoresin considered as an industrial waste and its purification by column chromatography followed by purity analysis by HPLC.   Chromatographic purification of spent turmeric oleoresin was done with Diaion HP 20 resin, fractions were collected. Curcuminoid enriched oleoresin fractions combined & then subjected to hexane precipitation, purified curcuminoid enriched fraction obtained. Purified curcuminoid enriched fraction subjected to silica gel column chromatography to separate the individual curcuminoids with chloroform: methanol at increasing polarity. 10ml each 40 fractions were collected and TLC profile done. Same Rf fractions collected & evaporated. Total curcuminoids of individual fractions were determined by HPLC. Recrystallization of each compound was done using methanol: chloroform (5:1) at 3°C. Curcumin, Demethoxy curcumin, Bisdemethoxy curcumin having purities 98.4%, 97.1%, 97.3% are separated from the spent turmeric oleoresins. The above study reveals that the spent turmeric oleoresin being wasted at present can be used to isolate and seperate the remaining curcuminoids.