Curcumin is the active ingredient characterizing turmeric ( Curcuma longa ), belonging to the family of linear curcuminoids. These are quite complex substances, which consist of two aromatic rings (aryl groups) held together by a chain of seven carbon atoms and having various substituents.
Turmeric contains about 2-6% curcuminoids; of these, 80% is represented by curcumin, 18% by demethoxyinscumine and 2% by bis-demethoxyinscumine. Other curcuminoids have been synthesized in the laboratory in an attempt to improve their bioavailability.
In the market you can find dry extracts of curcumin standardized in curcuminoids and / or curcumin.
