Optimization of curcumin extraction by microwave assisted in vitro plant cell bursting by orthogonal array designed extraction process and HPTLC analysis

The present work proposes the use of orthogonal design in the development of microwave assisted extraction of curcumin from Curcuma longa L. rhizomes. Extraction was brought about by plant cell bursting under microwave effect at 2450 MHz, followed by leaching out of the active constituents from the irradiated sample under constant stirring in a closed container with acetone. Curcumin was quantified using a Camag HPTLC system. The optimized conditions as obtained from the graphical representation of analysis of means showed that at 20% microwave power, 4 min irradiation time and with particles screened from sieve20, extraction efficiency of 98.05% was obtained from the first 3 hrs of extraction as compared to the curcumin yield obtained from unirradiated sample with constant stirring in acetone for 24 hours. Analysis of different chromatographic parameters showed that curcumin was not degraded under microwave effect.