SPICE

INDIA

BIOAVAILABILITY OF
BIOCURCUMAXTM Dr. Merina Benny and

(BCM – 095TM)
Dr. Benny Antony
Research & Development Laboratory,
Arjuna Natural Extracts Ltd.,
Industrial Development Area,
Binanipuram P.O., Edayar – 683502.

Abstract Introduction internally as a tonic for the

Curcuminoids are the Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is stomach, blood purifier and
yellow colouring matter, the a bright yellow ancient spice externally for the treatment of
most active molecules of native to Asian countries. It has skin diseases and wound
turmeric (Curcuma longa) one of been used as a traditional healing3,4.
the familiar spice possessing remedy dating back to 600 BC. The active components of
numerous bioactive Turmeric is well known for its turmeric are identified as
components. But it is suggested applications as a cosmetic, curcumin [1,7 bis (4 hydroxy –
and proved that the total condiment and flavouring 3 – methoxy phenyl) 1,6 –
curcuminoids absorb by animal agent1. It has been used in the heptadiene – 3,5 – dione] and
system limit to 50 – 60 per cent. Indian ayurvedic system of volatile oil. Curcumin, which
BiocurcumaxTM (BCM-095TM) is medicines, unani medicines as gives yellow colour to turmeric
a unique blend which enhances well as in Chinese medicines. and essential oil which gives the
the bioavailability of curcumin. Turmeric is the main spice aroma are responsible for the
The study described here which has been used by biological activities 5,6. In
reveals the bioavailability of different communities of people addition to curcumin, two other
BiocurcumaxTM (BCM-095TM) in for their religious purposes2. curcuminoids are also
human volunteers. Turmeric has been used identified in turmeric – mono

Key words: Curcuma longa, Biocurcumax, curcumin, bioavailability

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demethoxy curcumin and bis essential oil of turmeric has a Even though curcumin
demethoxy curcumin7. remarkable synergistic effect for possesses many biological
the activities of naturally activities, its absorption in the
The anti-inflammatory, occurring anti-tumor animal system is very little.
anti-arthritic, anti-allergic, anti- components . Immunological
18,19 Pharmacokinetics studies in rats
bacterial and anti-tumor studies demonstrated that indicate that the absorption of
activities of curcuminoids are essential oil of turmeric pure curcumin from the gastro
scientifically known 8,9. As a inhibited the proliferation and intestinal tract is about 60 – 65
polyphenol, curcumin is an the natural killer activity of per cent after administration of
anti-oxidant, preventing cell human lymphocytes 19. a single oral dose of 400 mg/
and tissue destruction due to Moreover the essential oil of kg12. The very poor absorption
free radical activity. It act as a turmeric induce of curcumin from the gastro
scavenger of oxygen radical, internucleosomal DNA intestinal tract bas been
hydroxyl radical, nitric oxide fragmentation in association confirmed by Guido Shoba et
radical etc. Hence it helps to with programmed cell death in al13. They have studied the effect
prevent / retard various cardio human myeloid leukemia HL– of piperine on the absorption of
– vascular, viral and other 60 cells17. curcumin on human volunteers.
chronic diseases like arthritis, On a dosage of 400 mg of
cancer and AIDS by Toxicity has not been curcumin, 20 mg of piperine has
neutralizing existing free reported at standard dosage been reported to increase
radicals10. Curcumin protects levels for curcumin. Externally absorption considerably 13.
the brain from lipid high doses of turmeric, its Curcumin is often formulated
peroxidation without affecting alcoholic extract and pure with bromelain to enhance
the central nervous system. curcumin do not produce toxic absorption 14. Piperine and
Further it is proved that effects in any animal studied11.
Table 1: Experimental design

Group No. of Age Diet Dosage

volunteers
I Curcumin 8 25–45 Avoided turmeric 500 mg capsules
years containing foods 24 hours containing 450 mg
before and after taking total curcuminoids,
curcumin / Biocurcumax 8 capsules as a
capsules single dose
II BiocurcumaxTM 7 500 mg capsules
(BCM – 095TM) containing 450 mg
Biocurcumax 8
capsules as a
single dose

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Bromelain are extracted from and seven each. The arranged from the local places
other products like black experimental design is shown around Aluva and they were
pepper and pineapple. in Table 1. advised to report at the R&D
Value added spice and All the chemicals used were Laboratory of Arjuna Natural
herbal extracts can be of analytical grade. Pure Extracts at Binanipuram. They
formulated into nutraceuticals curcumin was purchased were under the age group of 25
and related products. from Sigma Chemical company, – 45 and belong to both male
Biocurcumax TM is a unique St. Louis USA. Dried rhizomes and female. They were advised
blend (Patent No. 200430), of raw turmeric was to follow normal diet prior to
formulated by the R&D purchased from the local the experiment and instructed
Laboratory of Arjuna Natural market at Aluva and identified to avoid food items containing
Extracts for enhancing the as per specimen ID–AE– turmeric especially on the
absorption of Curcuminoids15. It HBRS–030. Curcuminoids were previous day to the test and on
is a reconstituted turmeric extracted as per the production the test day.
extract standarised with flowchart of Arjuna QCFL–04. Experimental method
curcuminoids 16. Studies The final product obtained CPE-
The purity of curcumin of
conducted on Albino rats show 014 was analysed based on the
both curcumin capsules and
that the dietary absorption of quality control standards QCD–
Biocurcumax capsules were
pure curcumin was only 50–60 05. Biocurcumax TM was also
estimated spectrophoto-
percent whereas the absorption analysed as per the standard
metrically by FCC method.
of curcumin was increased to protocol. Regarding the experimental
about 96–97 per cent in the Human volunteers protocol, the group volunteers
Biocurcumax blend16.
The present study reveals Human volunteers were were considered as the
the bioavailability of total
curcuminoids in human
volunteers using the
BiocurcumaxTM (BCM–095TM).
This study was carried out
during 2003 at R&D Laboratory
of Arjuna Natural Extracts,
Binanipuram.
Experimental design

Fifteen healthy human

volunteers of either sex, under
the age group of 25–45 were
identified and they were
divided into two groups of eight

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curcumin group and group II Mobile phase : Methanol on this when specific need arises,
volunteers as the Biocurcumax (HPLC grade) Biocurcumax can be given to
group. Blood samples (5 ml : Isocratic flow maintain the continuous
each) of these volunteers were availability of curcumin in the
collected at 7 am before taking Flow rate : 1 ml/ min. blood.
the capsules (0 hour). They were Run time : 30 minutes Acknowledgements
given the curcumin /
biocurcumax capsules ( 8 nos.) Detection wave The authors deeply
as a single dose along with a length : 420 nm acknowledge the technical
glass of water. Blood samples (5 advices received from late Dr.
ml) were taken one hour, two Results and Discussion
S.B Rao, Consultant, the
hours, three hours, four hours, Biocurcumax TM (BCM– chemists of the R&D Laboratory
six hours, eight hours, 10 hours 095TM) is a reconstituted purified of ANEL and all volunteers
and 12 hours after taking the and standardized turmeric who were wiling to co-operate
capsules. Blood samples were extract which enhances the with this human study.
collected in anticoagulant bioavailability of curcumin in
(Heparin) treated weighed blood. Reference

tubes. Weight of the blood 1. Kurup PNV. Handbook of

obtained was noted and Study reported here reveals
the absorption of curcuminoids Medicinal Plants; Central
extracted with Ethyl acetate. Council for Research in
The ethyl acetate portions were in normal curcumin powder
and biocurcumax blend (BCM– Ayurveda and Siddha:
pooled filtered and Lucknow, India. 1979; 78
concentrated. This was weighed 095TM) on human volunteers.
and made upto a known The results are shown in Fig. 1. 2. MeCLATCHEY W.
volume by HPLC grade This study indicates that the Traditional use of Curcuma
methanol. This was then filtered bioavailability of biocurcumax is longa in Rotuma. Economic
using 0.2 micron membrane five-seven fold higher that Botany 1993, 47 (3), 291 –
filter. Twenty microliter of this curcumin. Moreover the results 296
solution was injected into the shows that curcumin is retained 3. Nadkarni AK. Indian
HPLC column. in the blood for only four-five Materia Medica. 1954; 1: 414
HPLC conditions hours whereas that for – 418
biocurcumax is more than 8
Apparatus : Shimadzu HPLC hours with higher level of 4. Srimal RC. Curcumin.
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availability of a 12(4): 331 – 333
Column : CLS – ODS,
C18, 250 x 4.6 pharmacologicaly active product 5. Moken Y, Xianping D,
in the blood is very important for Yaoshu T. Studies on the
Injection volume : 20 ml the biochemical function. Based chemical constituents of

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common turmeric 11. Srimal RC, and Dhavan 17. Paek, Sang H, Kim, Geon J,
(Curcuma longa) BN. Pharmacology of Jeong, Han S, Yum, Suny K.
Zhongcaoyao. 1984; 15(5) : diferloyl methane Ar-turmerone and beta-
197 – 198 (curcumin), a non-steroidal atlantone induce
6. Yegnanarayan R, Saraf AP,
anti-inflammatory agent. J. internucleosomal DNA
Balwani JH. Comparison of
Pharm., pharmac. 1973; 25: fragmentation associated
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of various extracts of 12. Srimal RC. Turmeric: a brief
death in human myeloid
curcuma. Indian J. of Med. review of medicinal leukemia HL – 60 cells.
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