SAFE PROCESSING, OPTIMIZATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NATURAL CURCUMINOIDS, PARTICULARLY CURCUMIN.

Introduction: The introduction of new species in Algerian biodiversity is a crucial task in our environmental and economical politic, thus some spices of great interest as curcuma, saffron...are introduced by young start up as Algerian soil is compatible with its culture and in the framework of enhancement of such spices, the safe recovery of Curcumin in a keto-enol tautomeric form, a sensitive and versatile pro-oxidant and antioxidant propriety rarely reported, which improve its solubility and promote the effectiveness of Curcumin as natural anticancer agent, is reported.

Material and methods: a non-thermal and conventional solid-liquid extraction by cold maceration with several solvents' systems and time depending is used, furthermore an optimization using Response Surface Method (RSM) is conducted, then obtained crud is separated using LC chromatography using ethyl acetate/hexane graduant, pure compounds were identified by TLC, MP, UV, IR, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy.

Results: experimental and optimized results reveled the best solvent and time: Acetone +pumice stone shaking/6h, for extracting maximum yield of 7,52% and 7,6% respectively. Besides, obtained Curcuminoids were selectively separated from crud using as supplementary treatment oleoresins solubility in Ether Petroleum propriety, pure Curcumin in tautomeric form was identified, and an improved total yield of purified Curcumin (2,53%) is obtained.

Conclusion: This economic and easy process improved Curcuminoids and Curcumin recovery, preservation and efficiency for further industrial applications: building bloc in drug design as anticarcinogen agent, derma-cosmetics, functional foods, nutraceutics, hemysynthesis, and natural dyes which make great profits of introduction of this spicy in Algerian soil.