Abstract

Dr. Prathvi Shetty, M. R. Shetty, Kumaraguru Kasinathan* and Keerthi P.

ABSTRACT

Curcumin, the primary bioactive compound in turmeric (Curcuma longa), is widely recognized for its potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and therapeutic properties. Traditionally, the first and second crop materials from turmeric rhizomes are preferred for curcumin extraction, while the third crop is often discarded as waste due to perceived lower yield and inferior quality. This review challenges this perception by demonstrating that, through an optimized extraction process, IIIrd crop curcumin can yield a high curcuminoids assay of 87%. By refining extraction techniques and validating the purity through HPLC analysis, this study establishes IIIrd crop curcumin as a valuable and sustainable alternative for the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries.