Amount Of Curcumin Research Articles

Spectrophotometric Determination of Curcumin using 3-Methyl-2-benzothiazolinone Hydrazone Hydrochloride Hydrate as Electrophilic Coupling Agent

Introduction: Nutraceuticals are products derived from food sources that provide extra health benefits in addition to the basic nutritional value found in foods. Spectrophotometric methods for the determination of curcumin were developed, which are simple, sensitive, selective, rapid, and reliable. Methods: The methods are based on the reduction of iron (III) to iron (II) by 3-Methyl-2- benzothiazolinone hydrazone hydrochloride hydrate (MBTH), which is an electrophilic coupling agent and subsequent reaction with curcumin in mild hydrochloric acid medium. Spectrophotometric methods for the determination of curcumin were developed, which are simple, sensitive, selective, rapid, and reliable. The methods are based on the reduction of iron (III) to iron (II) by 3-Methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone hydrochloride hydrate (MBTH), which is an electrophilic coupling agent and subsequent reaction with curcumin in mild hydrochloric acid medium. Result: The reaction produces a bluish–green complex with maximum absorbance at 670 nm. The colour complex can be extracted into chloroform. The methods obey Beer’s law in the range 0.3-7.0 and 0.2-7.0 (μg mL-1). Conclusion: 10 common anions and cations were added, and the method was tested, and no interference was observed. The proposed methods offered the advantages of having good reproducibility and were satisfactorily worked out to estimate the amount of curcumin in various turmeric samples.

Charge-converting nanocarriers: Phosphorylated polysaccharide coatings for overcoming intestinal barriers

For the design of charge-converting nanocarriers (NCs), cationic lipid-based NCs containing curcumin as model drug were coated with phosphorylated starch (NC-SP) and phosphorylated dextran (NC-DP). NCs showed a drug encapsulation efficiency of 94 % and had a mean size of 175 to 180 nm. The recorded zeta potential of the core NC (cNC) was +8.3 mV, whereas it reversed to −10.6 mV and −7.4 mV after decorating with SP and DP, respectively. Furthermore, a 3-fold higher amount of curcumin having been incorporated in these NCs remained stable within 2 h of UV exposure indicating a photoprotective effect of this delivery system. Charge-converting properties were confirmed by cleavage with intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) and resulted in a zeta potential shift of Δ15.4 mV for NC-SP and Δ11.2 mV for NC-DP. NC-SP and NC-DP showed enhanced mucus permeating properties compared to cNC, that were additionally confirmed by an up to 2.2-fold improved cellular uptake on mucus secreting Caco-2/HT29-MTX cells. According to these results, NC-SP and NC-DP coatings hold promise as a viable and efficient strategy for charge-converting NCs.

Identification of the active compounds and estimation of the amount of curcumin in the hot aqueous extract of Curcuma longa roots and evaluation of its inhibitory effectiveness against microorganisms

This study was conducted to detect the bioactive compounds in hot aqueous Turmeric (Curcuma longa) roots extract and study its effectiveness in inhibiting a number of gram-negative and positive bacteria and two types of molds. It was found that the turmeric extract contains a number of active compounds, the most important of which are flavonoids and resins, in addition to volatile oils, while it does not contain The extract contains alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, steroids, tannins, terpenes, and coumarins, and the total amount of phenolic substances in the extract amounted to 7.20 mg/g of gallic acid, and the percentage of curcumin in the extract amounted to 8.49 mg/g. Turmeric root extract did not show high inhibitory activity at all concentrations against gram-negative bacteria, especially Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia bacteria. On the contrary, gram-positive bacteria had weak resistance to the extract, specifically at concentrations of 150 and 200 mg/ml, as they reached diameters of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria 14.00 and 14.50 mm at concentrations of 150 and 200 mg/ml, respectively, and Bacillus subtilis bacteria 22.50 and 24.50 mm at concentrations of 150 and 200 mg/ml, respectively. The results showed that there were significant differences in the percentage of mold inhibition, and the highest percentage of inhibition reached 85.24 for the turmeric root extract at a concentration of 200 mg/ml for Alternaria alternata mold, and the lowest percentage of inhibition reached 28.57% at a concentration of 50 mg/ml for Aspergillus niger.

In Vitro Effects of Curcumin in Free and Phytosomal Forms on the Expression of T Helper1 and Regulatory T Cells' Transcription Factors in Collagen-Induced Arthritis.

Curcumin as a polyphenolic compound has a potential capacity to reduce autoimmune reactions by skewing the balance of Thelper1 (Th1)/regulatory T cells (Treg) toward Treg cells. However, the low absorption and bioavailability of this agent have prompted researchers to use various drug delivery systems such as phytosomes to reduce these drawbacks. To date, few studies have evaluated the effects of phytosomal curcumin (nano-curcumin) on immune responses. Hence, we compared the modulatory effects of curcumin in free and phytosomal form on the expression of Th1 and Treg transcription factors, T-bet (T-box-containing protein) and Foxp3 (forkhead box p3), respectively, in a collagen-induced arthritis model (CIA). Following the induction of CIA, splenocytes were isolated and re-stimulated with collagen in the absence or presence of two different doses of curcumin in free and phytosomal form. Then, expression of T-bet and Foxp3 was assessed by real-time PCR. The expression of T-bet was reduced in curcumin and phytosomal curcumin groups rather than in the untreated group. The level of T-bet was not significantly different between free and phytosomal groups. Moreover, mRNA expression of Foxp3 enhanced after treatment with curcumin, while phytosomal curcumin groups showed no difference in comparison with the untreated group. curcumin in nano/free form showed a modulatory effect on the expression of T-bet. However, only free-form enhanced Foxp3 expression, which could be owing to the low amount of curcumin in the phytosomal complex rather than free-form at the same dose or due to leakage of curcumin from the complex.

Fabrication and evaluation of gelatin cryogels for curcumin controlled release via transdermal iontophoresis

Transdermal drug delivery system delivers a drug through skin to the desired cells. Its use is limited due to the poor drug diffusion through the outer skin layer. The aim of this work was to fabricate and characterize the gelatin cryogel matrices for the targeted transdermal curcumin delivery via iontophoresis for the breast cancer treatment. The gelatin cryogels were fabricated at various concentrations under the freeze-drying method. FTIR, SEM, STA, and BET were utilized to characterize the gelatin cryogels and curcumin loaded gelatin cryogels. The curcumin release behavior was investigated under the effects of gelatin concentrations, electric fields, pig skin permeation, and pHs. The gelatin cryogel matrices possessed the interconnected pore sizes between 56.61 μm and 129.67 μm, in which the pore size increased with increasing gelatin concentration. The curcumin percentage released from the 1.5%v/v PSG cryogel was 89.7 %, relatively higher than the 0.8%v/v PSG cryogels. Under the effect of electric fields of 3V and 6V, the curcumin release percentages from the 1.5%v/v PSG cryogel were increased to reach 94.7 % and 96.0 %, respectively. For the release-permeation of curcumin through the pig skin, the curcumin release percentages from the 1.5%v/v PSG cryogel under the electric fields of 0V, 3V, and 6V became lower at 38.45 %, 46.33 %, and 72.33 %, respectively, as the pig skin was the obstacle in the curcumin diffusion. Slightly higher release rates and amounts of curcumin from the 1.5%v/v PSG cryogel were observed at the of pH 5.5 relative to the pH of 7.4, and at the electric field of 6V relative to 0V. The effect of applied electric field was shown to shorten the delivery time from the PSG cryogel. The 1.5%v/v PSG cryogel under applied electric field 6V was shown here as a potential biobased matrix to be used in the curcumin transdermal delivery via iontophoresis for cancer treatment.

Increasing the bioavailability of curcumin using a green supercritical fluid technology-assisted approach based on simultaneous starch aerogel formation-curcumin impregnation

A green approach based on simultaneous starch aerogel formation-curcumin impregnation via supercritical fluid technology was used to increase the bioavailability of curcumin. The loading amounts of curcumin were 16.4, 21.4, and 24.9 mg/g of aerogel for the 25% Amyl-loaded, 55% Amyl-loaded, and 72% Amyl-loaded samples, respectively. Curcumin-loaded aerogels showed the eventual distribution of curcumin in the hydrophobic area of the internal structure of the aerogels. In vitro gastrointestinal release profiles demonstrated the enhanced curcumin release from the curcumin-loaded aerogel formulations produced by the SC-CO2 technology over free curcumin. After intestinal digestion, the percentage of released curcumin from 25% Amyl-loaded, 55% Amyl-loaded, and 72% Amyl-loaded was 7.2, 12.1, and 12.1%, respectively, while the release of native curcumin was only 0.5%. Caco-2 cell permeation studies revealed superior bioavailability of curcumin from the curcumin-loaded aerogels. Curcumin-loaded aerogels exhibited improved storage stability than free curcumin.

Smartphone-based imaging colorimetric assay for monitoring the quality of curcumin in turmeric powder.

This research developed a colorimetric assay for semi-quantitative curcumin detection. The screening test was performed using a ferric chloride to form a brownish color which was further used to evaluate the amount of curcumin in the turmeric powder samples. The quantitative assay was performed based on the color intensity of the curcumin target using a smartphone digital image colorimetry with a developed lightbox constructed with a white light-emitting diodes (LED) light source as the measurement device. Images in red, green, and blue (RGB) color were processed to obtain relevant colors from the image and the color values were used to analyze curcumin concentrations. The intensity of the ΔB was correlated to the concentration of curcumin with high sensitivity. The method showed a linear range between 0.25 and 5mg L-1 with the LOD and LOQ of 0.12 and 0.41mg L-1, respectively. Sample analysis was carried out in turmeric powders. Curcumin in turmeric powder samples was simply extracted using acetonitrile followed by dilution 100 times for sample preparation. The accuracy was tested by spiking 0.25, 1.00, and 4.00mg L-1 of standard curcumin into the turmeric sample solution. The average percentage recoveries were acceptable in all samples (90-104%). The method was validated by comparing the results obtained from the proposed method and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). There was no statistically significant difference between the two methods (P = 0.05).

Waterborne polyurethane polymer dispersions using castor oil and curcumin as bioresources: Synthesis, characterization, and antibacterial textile applications

AbstractThe main goal of this study is to make new waterborne polyurethane polymers (WPUCs) using bioresources like curcumin as a chain extender and castor oil as a polyol. We explored different mole ratios of curcumin during the synthesis of WPUC polymers. The WPUC dispersions were well‐defined and had nanoparticle sizes that ranged from 80.1 to 48.2 nm. Their zeta potentials were between −61.7 and − 52.2 mV, which showed that they were more stable. The absence of a phenolic hydroxyl band in the synthesized WPUC's IR spectrum indicated the insertion of curcumin into the PU chain. The coating of WPUCs on polyester/cotton (PE/C) blend fabric showed an improvement in colorfastness properties and reduced air permeability. The enhanced bending modulus (enhanced stiffness), improved abrasion resistance, and higher tensile strength were also observed. Furthermore, the WPUC‐coated fabric samples showed a bacterial inhibition percentage of 83.12%–99.9999% (p < 0.001) compared with blank fabric against bacterias' because of the inherent nature of curcumin. Inserting a higher amount of curcumin in the polymer chain of WPUC improved the antibacterial effects. Overall, our findings provide valuable insights for the possible antibacterial textile applications of synthesized WPUCs.

Assessing the efficacy of curcumin-loaded alginate hydrogel on skin wound healing: A gene expression analysis.

Skin tissue engineering has gained significant attention as a promising alternative to traditional treatments for skin injuries. In this study, we developed 3D hydrogel-based scaffolds, Alginate, incorporating different concentrations of Curcumin and evaluated their properties, including morphology, swelling behavior, weight loss, as well as hemo- and cytocompatibility. Furthermore, we investigated the therapeutic potential of Alginate hydrogel containing different amounts of Curcumin using an in vitro wound healing model. The prepared hydrogels exhibited remarkable characteristics, SEM showed that the pore size of hydrogels was 134.64μm with interconnected pores, making it conducive for cellular infiltration and nutrient exchange. Moreover, hydrogels demonstrated excellent biodegradability, losing 63.5% of its weight over 14 days. In addition, the prepared hydrogels had a stable release of curcumin for 3days. The results also show the hemocompatibility of prepared hydrogels and a low amount of blood clotting. To assess the efficacy of the developed hydrogels, 3T3 fibroblast growth was examined during various incubation times. The results indicated that the inclusion of Curcumin at a concentration of 0.1mg/mL positively influenced cellular behavior. The animal study showed that Alginate hydrogel containing 0.1mg/mL curcumin had high wound closure(more than 80%) after 14 days. In addition, it showed up-regulation of essential wound healing genes, including TGFβ1 and VEGF, promoting tissue repair and angiogenesis. Furthermore, the treated group exhibited down-regulation of MMP9 gene expression, indicating a reduction in matrix degradation and inflammation. The observed cellular responses and gene expression changes substantiate the therapeutic efficacy of prepared hydrogels. Consequently, our study showed the healing effect of alginate-based hydrogel containing Curcumin on skin injuries.

Dual-ROS Sensitive Moieties Conjugate Inhibits Curcumin Oxidative Degradation for Colitis Precise Therapy.

Curcumin, a natural bioactive polyphenol with diverse molecular targets, is well known for its anti-oxidation and anti-inflammatory potential. However, curcumin exhibits low solubility (<1µgmL-1), poor tissue-targeting ability, and rapid oxidative degradation, resulting in poor bioavailability and stability for inflammatory therapy. Here, poly(diselenide-oxalate-curcumin) nanoparticle (SeOC-NP) with dual-reactive oxygen species (ROS) sensitive chemical moieties (diselenide and peroxalate ester bonds) is fabricated by a one-step synthetic strategy. The results confirmed that dual-ROS sensitive chemical moieties endowed SeOC-NP with the ability of targeted delivery of curcumin and significantly suppress oxidative degradation of curcumin for high-efficiency inflammatory therapy. In detail, the degradation amount of curcumin for SeOC is about 4-fold lower than that of free curcumin in an oxidative microenvironment. As a result, SeOC-NP significantly enhanced the antioxidant activity and anti-inflammatory efficacy of curcumin in vitro analysis by scavenging intracellular ROS and suppressing the secretion of nitric oxide and pro-inflammatory cytokines. In mouse colitis models, orally administered SeOC-NP can remarkably alleviate the symptoms of IBD and maintain the homeostasis of gut microbiota. This work provided a simple and effective strategy to fabricate ROS-responsive micellar and enhance the oxidation stability of medicine for precise therapeutic inflammation.

Formulation and Evaluation of Herbal Antibacterial Cream

The creation of a more potent antibacterial dosage form is the aim of this study. The synergy between T. procumbens and curcumin yields remarkable results. With less ethyl acetate and a significant amount of curcumin isolated, Soxhelt’s extraction method for both herbs produces a useful extract. Triadax and curcumin extracts were used to make the cream, and a number of evaluative and microbiological tests were performed.

Fabrication of Microalgae Oil Vesicles for Drug Delivery Applications.

In this study, it is demonstrated that natural microalgae oils, which contain fatty acid components including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), could be directly applied to fabricate vesicular structures in aqueous phase through a forced formation process. The microalgae oil vesicles had initial average diameters of 170- 230 nm with negative charges apparently caused by dissociation of the fatty acid components. The vesicles possessed excellent stability with lifetimes for at least 450 days. The formation of the vesicular structures with hydrophilic cores/regions was confirmed by the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image and successful encapsulation of a hydrophilic material. For encapsulation of a hydrophobic material, lutein, the vesicle size was increased probably due to the insertion of lutein into the hydrophobic vesicular bilayer structures. The analysis of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy suggested that the vesicular bilayer fluidity was decreased by encapsulating lutein. However, the lutein-encapsulating microalgae oil vesicles still possessed high stability and the vesicular structures could maintain intact even at an environmental temperature up to 60℃. Applicability of the microalgae oil vesicles as drug delivery carriers was also demonstrated by successful encapsulation of curcumin. However, when the loaded curcumin was increased to a certain amount, physical stability of the microalgae oil vesicles was significantly reduced. This is probably because the vesicular structures with only limited spaces for accommodating hydrophobic materials were strongly affected by encapsulating a large amount of curcumin. It is interesting to note that by adding egg L-α-phosphatidylcholine, the curcumin encapsulation-induced instability of the microalgae oil vesicles could be alleviated. The results indicated that vesicular structures could be fabricated from microalgae oils and the microalgae oil vesicles were capable of encapsulating hydrophilic or hydrophobic materials for drug delivery applications. The findings lay a background for further dosage form development of nutritional supplements encapsulated by natural microalgae oils.

The thermostability of temulawak extract encapsulation with several coating variations of sodium tripolyphosphate and chitosan

Temulawak (Temulawak zanthorhiza Roxb) is a rhizome plant that contains curcuminoid compounds (curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin) and essential oils. Curcumin is unstable to heat, hence it is encapsulated to increase its thermostability of curcumin. Encapsulation was made using the freeze-drying method. The study used a completely randomized design method with two factors, namely variations in coating and temperature. This study aimed to produce encapsulation of Temulawak extract with the best thermostability. The variation of the coating used is the concentration of chitosan and sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) (g/mL), (0.1%: 0.05%), (0.2%: 0.1%), (0.3% : 0 .15%), and (0.4%: 0.2%), and the addition of tween 80. The thermostability method used immersion samples at temperatures of 30°C,40°C,50°C,60°C,70°C, and 80°C with the parameter of the amount of curcumin released which was measured using a UV-VIS spectrophotometer at a wavelength of 425 nm. Encapsulation of Temulawak extract and heating temperature were significantly different from curcumin content. After 80°C heat treatment for 20 mins, Curcuma extract in formula 1 coating with 0.1% chitosan and 0.05% STPP had the highest residual curcumin.

Gelatin-serum plasma film incorporated with curcumin for improvement of antioxidant and antibacterial properties for fresh pork packaging application

In this study, a novel active packaging film based on gelatin and serum plasma (GT/SM) with varying amounts of curcumin (CUR) was prepared. Curcumin, a strong antibacterial and antioxidant agent, was incorporated into the film to investigate its efficacy on physical/structural characteristics and bacterial inhibition in packaged pork. The results demonstrated significant enhancements in tensile strength (43.95–61.99 MPa), elongation at break (49.46–73.31%), swelling capacity (49.57–68.82%), solubility index (40.80–59.82%), and moisture content (13.85–16.37%). The films exhibited improved opacity (2.70–14.85 mm−1) and water vapor barrier characteristics (5.20–1.46 × 10−11 g−1 s −1 Pa−1). The antioxidant and antibacterial capacities were also increased, exhibiting enhanced preservation potential for fresh pork. Curcumin was uniformly distributed throughout the GT/SM matrix, according to scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results. Using solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS), over 55 volatile aroma components were identified in fresh pork loin, including ketones, acids, alcohols, hydrocarbons, aldehydes, and esters. This study offers a novel strategy for active packaging that extends the shelf life of fresh pork loins while ensuring the safety and quality of food.

Herbal active ingredient-loaded poly(ω-pentadecalactone-co-δ-valerolactone)/gelatin nanofibrous membranes

Recently, there has been an accelerating interest in novel biocompatible wound dressings made of nano-sized materials, especially nanofibers. Electrospun nanofibers provide high surface area and mimic the extracellular matrix which enhances biocompatibility. Besides, nanofibrous structures have high active ingredient loading capacity as a result of their high surface-to-volume ratio and porosity. In the present study, curcumin-loaded poly(ω-pentadecalactone-co-δ-valerolactone)/gelatin (PDL-VL/Gel) nanofibrous membranes were fabricated to be used for healing skin wounds. Poly(ω-pentadecalactone-co-δ-valerolactone) copolymer has been enzymatically synthesized in previous studies, thus it improves the originality of the membrane. It was aimed to obtain a synergetic effect and increase the novelty of the work by blending synthetic and natural polymers. Moreover, it was preferred to provide antibacterial activity by the incorporation of a herbal ingredient (curcumin) as a natural alternative to commercial antibiotics. Varied amounts of curcumin (5–25 %, w:v) were electrospun together with PDL-VL/Gel (equal volume ratio) polymer blend (fiber diameters ranged between 554 and 1074 nm) and several characterizations (morphological and molecular structure, wettability characteristics, and thermal behavior) were applied to examine the curcumin incorporation. Afterwards, in vitro curcumin release studies were carried out and mathematical modeling was applied to release data to clarify the transport mechanism. Curcumin release profiles comprised of an initial burst release in the first hour followed by a sustained release through 24 h. Based on the antibacterial activity test results, 15 % curcumin loading ratio was found to be sufficient for the treatment of skin wounds infected by Gram-negative (E. coli) and Gram-positive (S. aureus and B. subtilis) bacteria. Additionally, nanofibrous membranes did not lead to cytotoxicity, and curcumin content further enhanced the viability of fibroblasts. Thus, the presented antibacterial nanofibrous membrane is suggested to be applied for the treatment of wound infections and accelerating the healing process.

Assessment of Curcuminoid Bioactivity Containing in Different Varieties of Curcuma Longa

There are many brands of turmeric powder available for consumers to use in Pakistan, one of the most popular spices. Several forms of turmeric powder (homegrown, open-market, and two marketed packaged brands were examined for their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Despite being able to meet all the tested phytochemical properties, the marketed packed (MP I and MP II) and open-market Curcuma longa powder extracts lacked saponin terpenoid and tannins. Turmeric's primary chemical constituent, curcumin, has been shown to have a number of beneficial biological properties. Home grown turmeric contains large amount of curcumin (4.22±0.52%). Additionally, home-made turmeric powder shown notable anti-inflammatory activities (IC₅₀=117.42±0.41 g/mL). With a zone of inhibition of 17.07 ±0.27 mm and 17.03±0.30 mm, respectively, homegrown curcuma longa powder showed the most significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Homegrown turmeric powder proved to be the best spice source of all the turmeric powders tested. This study provides information primarily on the therapeutic activities of turmeric, its derivatives, and potential medical uses for turmeric, as well as an assessment of their safety.

The Extraction Process, Separation, and Identification of Curcuminoids from Turmeric Curcuma longa.

Turmeric Curcuma longa is a well-known spice with various health benefits, attributed primarily to curcumin. Soxhlet extraction, cold maceration, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), and supercritical fluid extraction were performed, and the content of total phenols, proanthocyanidins, and antioxidants was analysed by UV/VIS spectrophotometry. High-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) was employed to identify and quantify the curcumin content. Supercritical extracts had the highest total phenolic content (538.95 mg GA/100 g material), while the Soxhlet extracts had the highest content of proanthocyanidins (4.77 mg PAC/100 g of material). Extracts obtained by UAE and supercritical extraction have the highest antioxidant potential. Antioxidant activity measured by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) was 64.27% and 1750.32 mg Trolox per g dry weight by 2,2-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline 6 sulphonic acid) (ABTS+•) for the extract obtained by supercritical extraction. The UAE resulted in the highest amount of curcumin (1.91 mg curcumin/g material). A kinetic study showed that extraction yield in supercritical extracts decreased with increasing temperature and that the content of isolated curcumin was inversely proportional to solvent-to-feed ratio (S/F). The present study has confirmed that turmeric is an excellent source of antioxidants, such as curcumin, that play an important role in reducing cellular stress by neutralising free radicals.

Antihyperlipidemic and Hepatoprotective Effect of Zingiber Cassumunar Rhizome Extract in High-Fat Diet-Induced Hyperlipidemic Rats: The Role of Antioxidant Activity

Hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress are major risk factors for the onset of cardiovascular diseases, and the oxidative stress caused by high level of lipids can cause liver damage. Zingiber cassumunar has been reported to contain a high antioxidant content that may provide therapeutic advantages. The present study was to evaluate the antihyperlipidemic and hepatoprotective effects of Z. cassumunar rhizome extract (ZCRE) in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hyperlipidemicrats model and investigate the mechanism through its effect on the endogenous antioxidant enzymes. In this study, the rhizomes of Z. cassumunar was extracted using ethanol 96% (v/v) and evaporated to get the concentrated Z. cassumunar rhizome extract (ZCRE). Thin layer chromatography (TLC)-densitometry was performed to determine the curcumin content in the extract. High fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia model was used to evaluate the anti-hyperlipidemic and hepatoprotectiveactivities of ZCRE in rats. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: normal control; High fat diet-induced hyperlipidemic rats (HFD); High Fat Diet and 100 mg/kgBW of ZCRE (HFD + 100 mg/kgBW); High Fat Diet and 200 mg/kgBW of ZCRE (HFD + 200 mg/kgBW); and High Fat Diet and 400 mg/kgBW of ZCRE (HFD + 400 mg/kgBW). The antihyperlipidemic and hepatoprotective potential of ZCRE were assessed through a series of analyses of body weight, blood biochemical parameters, which include total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), the serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT). The antioxidant activity of catalase (CAT) and glutation peroxidase (GSH-Px) were assessed on the liver homogenate. Data of the study were presented as mean ± SD and analyzed by using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Least Significant Difference (LSD) test for multiple comparisons. The TLC analysis showed that ZCRE contained a significant amount of Curcumin. In addition, the study has also shown that ZRCE was able to significantly lower the levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, SGPT, and SGOT as compared to hyperlipidemic rats (p &lt;0.05). Concomitantly, the activity of CAT and GSH-Px was found significantly increased (p &lt;0.05) when compared to hyperlipidemic control, with the dose of 400 mg/kg BW being the most effective. This study showed the significant antihyperlipidemic and hepatoprotective effects of ZCRE in HFD-induced hyperlipidemic rats, which mechanism might possibly connect to the increased antioxidant enzyme activities.

Preparation and evaluation of transdermal hydrogel of chitosan coated nanocurcumin for enhanced stability and skin permeability

Curcumin (CR) is a natural product that has great interest in biopharmaceutical applications. It has several biological effects that antagonizes inflammation, oxidative stress, and cancer. On the other hand, low aqueous solubility, stability, and dissolution rate are the main challenges to using curcumin. In the present investigation, curcumin was formulated as a nanosystem known as nanocurcumin using a combination of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) with different polymers as stabilizing agents. The nanocurcumin formulations were prepared and evaluated by measuring the particle size, surface charge, drug content, and stability. The selected nanocurcumin formulation prepared using PVPK30-Poloxamer 188 demonstrated a significantly smaller particle size (272.1 ± 15.32 nm) and a higher settlement volume ration as compared with other formulations. Also, the selected formulation showed higher solubility and dissolution rates as compared with other stabilizer combinations. Chitosan was added to the selected nanocurcumin formulation as a coating polymer to enhance short-term storage colloidal stability. The result of stability proved that chitosan (0.05%)-coated nanocurcumin dispersion showed good stability during storage as compared with non-coated nanocurcumin. Non-coated nanocurcumin and chitosan-coated curcumin were loaded into the Carbopol934 hydrogel matrix to investigate the effect on curcumin permeability across the skin. The results revealed that nanocurcumin hydrogel formulations showed a significantly higher amount of curcumin permeated across the skin.

Dietary curcumin supplementation alleviates diquat-induced oxidative stress in the liver of broilers

This study purposed to investigate the alleviating effect of dietary curcumin supplementation on oxidative stress in the liver of broilers induced by diquat. One-day-old Cobb broilers (400) were selected and randomly divided into 5 groups, with 8 replicates and 10 broilers per replicate. The control group and the diquat group were fed the basal diet, while the curcumin supplementation groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with different amounts of curcumin (50, 100, and 150 mg/kg). On d 21 of the test, 1 broiler was randomly selected from each replicate and intraperitoneally injected with 20 mg/mL of diquat solution at a dose of 1 mL/kg BW or equivalent physiological saline (for the control group). After 48 h of feeding, the selected broilers were slaughtered for analysis. The results show that diquat treatment reduced the antioxidant capacity of the liver, caused oxidative stress, and affected its lipid metabolism. However, diet supplementation using curcumin completely or partially reversed the effect of diquat on the liver of broilers. The blood alanine aminotransferase activity, total bilirubin and total protein levels, and liver Caspase-3 mRNA abundance in broilers were lower or significantly lower in the curcumin supplementation group than in the diquat group (P < 0.05). The curcumin supplementation groups had significantly higher total antioxidant capacity activity but significantly lower malondialdehyde in the liver of broilers than the diquat group (P < 0.05). The blood triglyceride level of broilers was lower or significantly lower in the curcumin supplementation groups than in the diquat group (P < 0.05). The activities of cetyl coenzyme A carboxylase in the liver were significantly lower in the 150 mg/kg curcumin supplementation groups than in the DQ group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary curcumin supplementation could ameliorate the effects of diquat-induced oxidative stress on the antioxidant capacity, tissue morphology, and lipid metabolism of the liver of broilers, thus protecting the liver. The recommended dosage for broiler diets is 100 to 150 mg/kg curcumin.