Electrochemical Analysis of Natural Chemopreventive Agent (Curcumin) in Extracted Sample and Pharmaceutical Formulation

Curcumin has anti-oxidative and anticarcinogenic activities. This study shows the electrochemical behaviour of curcumin using polarography, i.e., DC polarography and differential pulse polarography (DPP) methods. In ammonium tartrate as supporting electrolyte, the differential pulse polarogram of curcumin shows two conjugated peaks with peak potential (E_P) −1125 mV and −1275 mV vs SCE. However, the direct current polarogram shows only one polarographic wave with E_1/2 which was −1275 mV. The developed electrochemical methods have been standardised for the determination of curcumin in extracted sample of natural origin and its pharmaceutical formulation. The electrochemical analysis has been supplemented by ultraviolet and infrared spectral analyses of the samples.