Curcumin (/ˈkərkjuːmən/) is a diarylheptanoid. It is the principal curcuminoid of turmeric, which is a member of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae). It was first discovered about two centuries ago when Vogel and Pelletier reported the isolation of a “yellow coloring-matter” from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa (turmeric) and named it curcumin.[1] Turmeric's other two curcuminoids are desmethoxycurcumin and bis-desmethoxycurcumin. The curcuminoids are natural phenols that are responsible for the yellow color of turmeric. Curcumin can exist in several tautomeric forms, including a 1,3-diketo form and two equivalent enol forms. The enol form is more energetically stable in the solid phase and in organic solvents, while in water the 1,3-diketo dominates.[2]
Starting at
IUPAC name (1E,6E)-1,7-Bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione |
|
Other names Diferuloylmethane; curcumin I; C.I. 75300; Natural Yellow 3 |
CAS Number | 458-37-7 |
ChEBI | CHEBI:3962 |
ChEMBL | ChEMBL116438 |
ChemSpider | 839564 |
IUPHAR/BPS | 7000 |
Jmol interactive 3D | Image |
PubChem | 969516 |
UNII | IT942ZTH98 |
InChI[show] |
|
SMILES[show] |
Chemical formula | C21H20O6 |
Molar mass | 368.39 g·mol−1 |
Appearance | Bright yellow-orange powder |
Melting point | 183 °C (361 °F; 456 K) |