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Analysis and Extraction of Curcumin at Mid and Late Phase Harvested Curcuma Longa Samples Collected from Western Himalayan Regions

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Abstract

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is the most prominent curcuminoid found in the rhizome of Curcuma longa which has potential application in traditional therapeutics along with modern nanomedicine. The present study was carried out for the comparative extraction and analysis of Curcumin present in the mid (early) and harvesting (late) stages. As soil profile (pH and NPK) value plays a vital role in the curcumin content in the rhizome of Curcuma longa, we have studied the soil samples of the selected cultivation areas (Hamirpur, Kangra, and Una) for their respective microbial load, whereas the collected rhizome samples were subjected towards ultra performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) examination. The results of soil profiles of Hamirpur (Sample I), Kangra (Sample II), and Una (Sample III) were recorded with appropriate conditions for growth and metabolism along with some variations in optimum and medium-ranged N (higher than 40 kg/acre), phosphorus (30–40 kg/acre) and potassium (60–90 kg/acre to 90–120 kg/acre) contents, although the observed pH of the soil of all the three samples was in the range of 5.0–7.0. Sample II showed a high load of Azotobacter, a moderate amount of phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB)'s and fungus load in the soil, whereas, Sample I and Sample III showed a moderate load of Azotobacter, along with a moderate and low concentration of PSB and high microbial fungal concentrations. The UPLC-MS analysis was recorded with an initial high curcumin percentage in samples obtained from district Hamirpur (99%) and Una (85%) at mid-stage, which declined during the harvesting stage (40% and 65%, respectively), however, the turmeric rhizome samples from Kangra showed (65%) lowest Curcumin content during mid-stage, which increased during harvesting stage (98%). The Curcumin content varied at different harvesting stages and it depends upon region diversity, due to the influence of soil parameters and climatic conditions. Comparing Curcumin content between the early-mid and late harvesting stages of turmeric cultivation will solve the issues related to Curcumin harvesting and extraction, where industries and farmers can easily pick up the right stage of Curcumin harvesting for value-added production and worthy implementation.

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Abbreviations

UPLC:

Ultra performance liquid chromatography

HPLC:

High-performance liquid chromatography

MS:

Mass spectrometry

NPK:

Nitrogen phosphorus potassium

ESI:

Electrospray ionization

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This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology, Shoolini University of Biotechnology & Management Sciences, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, 173229, India

    Nitika Thakur & Pooja Sharma

  2. Department of Chemical Sciences, Doornfontein Campus, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, Johannesburg, 2028, South Africa

    Penny P. Govender & Sudheesh K. Shukla

  3. Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Engineering and Life Science, Shobhit Institute of Engineering & Technology (Deemed-to-Be University), Modipuram, Meerut, India

    Sudheesh K. Shukla

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  1. Nitika Thakur
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  2. Pooja Sharma
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Correspondence to Nitika Thakur or Sudheesh K. Shukla.

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Thakur, N., Sharma, P., Govender, P.P. et al. Analysis and Extraction of Curcumin at Mid and Late Phase Harvested Curcuma Longa Samples Collected from Western Himalayan Regions. Chemistry Africa 5, 1733–1742 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42250-022-00451-z

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