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curcumin

Structure via PubChem · Public domain (PubChem)

EntityQ312266· pop 44· linked from 706 articles

Also known as Terra merita, Yo-kin, Gelbwurz, C.I. 75300, Yellow puccoon, Safran D'inde, CI Natural Yellow 3, Halud

Curcumin is a bright yellow chemical produced by plants of the Curcuma longa species. It is the principal curcuminoid of turmeric (Curcuma longa), a member of the ginger family, Zingiberaceae. It is sold as an herbal supplement, cosmetics ingredient, food flavoring, and food coloring.

Chemical data

Formula
C21H20O6
Molecular weight
368.4 g/mol
IUPAC name
(1E,6E)-1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)hepta-1,6-diene-3,5-dione
SMILES
COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)/C=C/C(=O)CC(=O)/C=C/C2=CC(=C(C=C2)O)OC)O
InChIKey
VFLDPWHFBUODDF-FCXRPNKRSA-N
XLogP
3.2
Polar surface area
93.1 Ų
H-bond donors
2
H-bond acceptors
6
Formal charge
0

via PubChem

~9 min read

Encyclopedic overview

12 sections
Contents
  • History
  • Uses
  • Chemistry
  • Biosynthesis
  • Pharmacology
  • Safety
  • Research fraud
  • Warnings about dietary supplements
  • Alternative medicine
  • Stability
  • References
  • External links

Curcumin is a bright yellow chemical produced by plants of the Curcuma longa species. It is the principal curcuminoid of turmeric (Curcuma longa), a member of the ginger family, Zingiberaceae. It is sold as an herbal supplement, cosmetics ingredient, food flavoring, and food coloring.

Chemically, curcumin is a polyphenol, more particularly a diarylheptanoid, belonging to the group of curcuminoids, which are phenolic pigments responsible for the yellow color of turmeric.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “curcumin” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.

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