HPTLC method development and quantification of curcumin content in different extracts of rhizomes of Curcuma longa L.

Turmeric is very long known for its potent medicinal values in Indian traditional systems of medicine. Curcuma longa L. commonly known as turmeric (Haldi) is a well known plant which is used as a drug in traditional medicine such as Ayurvedic and Unani system of medicine. Curcumin is main active component present in the rhizomes of C. longa. The contents of curcuminoids in turmeric rhizomes vary often with varieties, locations, sources, and cultivation conditions, while there are significant variations in composition of turmeric rhizomes with varieties and geographical locations. The present study reported a simple, sensitive and fast HPTLC method for quantification of curcumin in solvent extracts of rhizomes of C. longa L. The separation was performed on TLC aluminium plates precoated with silica gel G F-254. Good separation was achieved in the mobile phase of chloroform: methanol: formic acid (9.6:0.4:0.1, v/v) at Rf= 0.70 +/- 0.05 for curcumin. The method was validated successfully having good resolution of peaks along with precision, accuracy and repeatability. Curcumin capsules (>95% curcumin) have not been emerged as a drug so far but had been taken in food or dietary supplement. In traditional medicine, it is well recommended to use 2 to 3 grams turmeric powder in our daily diet. Therefore, the objective of the study to extract turmeric and assess curcumin content and other constituents by HPTLC with a suggestion to use the whole extract derived from the equivalent 2 to 3 grams of the turmeric powder. Present study is to determine high content of curcumin 95-98% and recommended for many diseases. The HPTLC method can be used for quantification of Curcumin in extracts of rhizomes of C. longa L.