Extraction of curcuminoids from Curcuma longa: comparative study between batch extraction and novel three phase partitioning

Curcuminoids, the active components of dried rhizome of Curcuma longa have been extracted using batch extraction and three- phase partitioning (TPP) process. The effect of different processing parameters, namely different solvents, extraction time, ammonium sulfate concentration, slurry to tert- butanol ratio, and solute to aqueous ratio on extraction efficiency of TPP, was studied to attain maximum extraction yield. The highest yield of 58.38 mg/g was achieved at 40 +/- 2 degrees C in 150 min, with saturated ammonium sulfate 30% (w/v), slurry to tert- butanol ratio 1: 1 (v/v), and turmeric powder to water ratio 1: 40 (w/v) in TPP. However, batch extraction using ethanol as a solvent yielded 52.77mg/g in 180 min extraction time at 40 +/- 2 degrees C with 1: 40 (w/v) turmeric powder to water ratio and 400 rpm agitation speed. In view of reference method, i. e., Soxhlet extraction (100%), TPP showed 65.63% yield in 150 min and batch exhibited 59.92% in 180 min. The turmeric extracts obtained by different methods exhibited excellent antioxidant and anti- inflammatory activities equivalent to their respective reference standards. Hence, TPP extraction process assures a rapid and improved recovery of curcuminoids with excellent therapeutic properties. [GRAPHICS]