The detectives are discussing their last case, in which they offered advice and assistance to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Holmes enters the office and immediately tests the detective’s knowledge. “So, which of you can tell me what the FSSAI is?” asks Holmes. “Is it the ‘Fearless Snacks & Sweets Acquisition Initiative’ – tagline: No snack left behind!” says Cornlumbo. “Perhaps it stands for ‘Fiendishly Sneaky Snack Absorbing Individuals’ – tagline: Always eating more than their fair share”, says Miss Mapple with a hint of sarcasm. “Mon Dieu! Sometimes I wonder how any of you became food detectives in the first place; it’s the ‘Food Safety and Standards Authority of India,’ says Eggcule Poirot. “Bingo! And meeting their standards is the goal of our latest case,” says Holmes before going into the details.

Holmes explains to the detectives that he has been contacted by one of the leading producers of turmeric in the western state of Maharashtra in India. They produce a range of turmeric powders that are sold for cooking and creating various curry powders. To diversify their business, they want to extract curcuminoids from turmeric powder to target the nutritional supplements, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics markets. 

“I never knew that Turmeric was used for cosmetics; I guess that explains why so many people look orange these days,” says Cornlumbo. “Actually, turmeric has been used as a natural dye for fabrics and skin for thousands of years. It has even been used in traditional medicine for millennia, especially in Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Nowadays, the active compound in turmeric, curcumin, is used for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It is even being studied for its potential role in cancer prevention, as curcumin interferes with multiple cell signaling cascades,” says Holmes before asking, “Can any of you tell me the three components of curcuminoids?” “You mentioned the first component, curcumin; the other curcuminoids present are demethoxycurcumin (DMC) and bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC),” says Eggcule Poirot. “Great work, Eggcule; how would you like to visit the client in India to explain a compliant method for extracting curcuminoids from their turmeric powder?” asks Holmes. “India! I’ve always wanted to go!” says Eggcule excitedly. 

Eggcule was greeted at the airport by the client, Ramesh, who immediately whisked him into a taxi. “How fortuitous that you arrived when the full moon lands on a Monday to help us with our turmeric production; I have a very special surprise for you, Mr. Poirot,” says Ramesh. Eggcule couldn’t take his eyes off his surroundings; everything seemed unfamiliar but fascinating. 

After a two-hour drive, the taxi pulled up outside the town of Jejuri and as they approached the town on foot, Eggcule’s eyes almost popped out of his shell. The entire town shimmered in a golden hue as though he had walked into a living, breathing world of gold. Every surface, every face, and every structure was covered in vibrant turmeric powder. The air itself felt alive, with particles of turmeric that caught the sunlight, turning the entire landscape into a golden mirage. 

Eggcule stood speechless as he took in the scene. “That’s the desired effect, Mr. Eggcule, amazing, isn’t it? You see, turmeric holds a special place in our hearts in Maharashtra. This is the Bhandara festival, celebrated by many religious sects, all united by the glory of turmeric, which many believe symbolizes gold and prosperity,” says Ramesh. “It’s the most incredible scene I’ve encountered in my life,” says Eggcule. “I’m glad you’re happy; I’ve been told you hold the secrets to extracting the properties of our turmeric, and if we are successful, then prosperity will be ours, Mr. Poirot. Let’s head to my production facility, and you can explain the process to my team,” says Ramesh as they return to the taxi covered in a golden hue. 

As they arrive at the production facility, Eggcule explains how Ramesh and his team can extract turmeric using a Hot Extraction procedure that complies with the official Manual of the FSSAI and the official method of ‘Turmeric Rhizome’ from the European Pharmacopoeia. Ramesh is very excited but is worried they may forget some of the steps, so he asks Eggcule to provide his team with the most important details to refer to when they begin their process.

How Can You Extract Curcuminoids from Turmeric Using Hot Extraction?

Extracting curcuminoids (curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin) from turmeric powder using the Hot Extraction method. 

Equipment Needed

• UniversalExtractor E-800
• Analytical balance (accuracy ±0.1 mg)
• UV/Vis spectrophotometer
• Volumetric flasks (25 mL, 100 mL)
• Volumetric pipettes (0.5 mL, 1 mL, 2 mL)
•  Cellulose thimbles (33x150 mm)
• Cotton wool

Chemicals

• Ethanol (95% denatured with 4.8% methanol)
• Curcumin for synthesis
• Turmeric powder

The sample is a powder and, therefore, does not require additional homogenization.

Step-by-Step Procedure

1. Preparation of Standard Solutions:

• Prepare standard solutions with ethanol, resulting in solutions containing approximately 1.25, 2.5, and 5 mg/L of curcuminoids.

2. Weighing the Sample:

• Weigh the turmeric powder into a cellulose thimble.

3. Hot Extraction Process:

• Place the cellulose thimbles in the extraction chamber and add 120 mL of ethanol.
• Extract the sample with a Hot Extraction method for 2.5 hours.
• Rinse the extract with ethanol and transfer the solution to a 100 mL volumetric flask.

 4. Post-Extraction Processing:

• Filter the extract and rinse the beaker with additional ethanol to ensure all curcuminoids are collected.

5. UV/Vis Spectrophotometry:

• Dilute 2 mL of the extract solution to 25 mL with ethanol.
• Measure the absorbance of the sample at 425 nm against pure ethanol as the blank.
• Use a calibration curve based on the standard solutions to calculate the curcuminoid concentration in the extract.

6. Calculation of Curcuminoid Content:

Calculate the percentage of curcuminoids using the absorbance data and the following formula:

Where % Curcuminoids is the percentage of curcuminoid content in the sample, mSample is the weight of the sample in grams, and cs is the concentration of sample solution s in mg/L.

Ramesh is very pleased. He promises that Eggcule will never be without turmeric again and gives him a lifetime supply of turmeric and a recipe book to make the most of his gift. Eggcule is eggstatic and tells Ramesh one last chemistry trick before leaving. “Thank you, Ramesh; always remember to add pepper to turmeric, as curcumin has low bioavailability and is notoriously difficult to absorb in the body. Studies indicate that piperine in pepper can increase absorption by as much as 2000%, ensuring that you are always at one with your beloved spice.”