Development of a Flow Injection Method for Determination of Total Curcuminoids

Curcuminoids are phenolic diarylheptanoids which constitute the active ingredient in turmeric, a cooking spice. Curcuminoids have been demonstrated to possess numerous health benefits and have been included in various pharmaceutical products as well as over-the-counter beverages and foods. A method based upon Flow Injection Analysis with fluorescence detection was developed for the determination of total curcuminoids in extracts of turmeric root. The automated flow injection system allows for future modifications and inclusion of other components, such as chromatographic columns. The use of molecular fluorescence detection allows for selective measurement in the low part per million range