Characterization of a standardized extract of fresh Curcuma Longa rhizomes

Part of our research and industrial expertise is focused on the production of plant extracts with a phytochemical profile similar to that of the plant totum, which is defined as all the active compounds present in the part of the plant used for extraction, and on which the fundamental principles of additivity and synergy are based. The objective of this study was to determine the phytochemical composition of a hydroethanolic extract of fresh Curcuma Longa rhizomes, made according to the patented process Phytostandard^® (standardized extract marketed under the name EPS Curcuma, PiLeJe Laboratoire, France), per comparison with the native plant.

The phytochemical composition of the extract was determined in HPTLC, HPLC, LC / MS, MS / MS and NMR experiments. The phytochemical profile of the extract was similar to that of the native plant. We identified 16 compounds including phenolic compounds, curcuminoids, amino acids, polysaccharides and terpenoids. NMR experiments after purification of the extract allowed the identification of α-tumerone, β-tumerone and arturmerone, three compounds known to be present in the essential oil. By combining several analytical methods we identified precisely different compounds present in the extract and showed that the patented extraction process used allows to obtain an extract of fresh Curcuma Longa rhizomes in which the majority of metabolites found in the native plant are preserved and therefore with a composition close to the totum.