Curcumin is a bright yellow chemical produced by Curcuma longa plants. It is the principal curcuminoid of turmeric (Curcuma longa), a member of the ginger family, Zingiberaceae. It is sold as an herbal supplement, cosmetics ingredient, food flavouring, and food colouring.Chemically, Curcumin is a diarylheptanoid, belonging to the group of Curcuminoids, which are natural phenols responsible for turmeric's yellow colour. It is a tautomeric compound existing in enolic form in organic solvents and in keto form in water.

Curcumin is a yellow pigment found primarily in turmeric, a flowering plant of the ginger family best known as a spice used in curry. It’s a polyphenol with anti-inflammatory properties and the ability to increase the amount of antioxidants that the body produces. Curcumin and the Curcuminoids found in turmeric can be extracted to produce supplements that have a much higher potency than turmeric. However, Curcumin is absorbed poorly during digestion, so a myriad of different formulations have been created to improve its bioavailability.

Uses and Applications:-

v  Food colorant

v  Antioxidant

v  Anti-inflammation agent

v  Food and beverage

v  Pharmaceutical

v  Textile

v  Personal Care

v  Household

v  Industrial

v  Commercial

v  Health & Personal Care Products

Use of curcumin (turmeric) as a pharmacologic agent is limited due to its low systemic bioavailability following oral dosing. Curcumin is used as a spice in curry powders and mustard. It is marketed with claims of potent antioxidant activity, improving bone and joint health, and reducing inflammation, but clinical trials are limited. Its efficacy in treating numerous cancers has been investigated. Curcumin has been shown to provide antidepressant and anxiolytic effects in people with major depressive disorder; however, clinical trials are limited.

Market Outlook

The global Curcumin market was valued at $52.45 million in 2017, and is projected to reach $104.19 million by 2025, registering a CAGR of 8.9% from 2018 to 2025. Curcumin is a bioactive compound found in the root of Curcuma longa also known as turmeric. Curcumin exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidation properties that make it an ideal ingredient in many medical and food applications. The Curcumin market is expected to witness a huge development due to growth in consumer awareness regarding its therapeutic properties.

Enhanced health consciousness, multiple health benefits of Curcumin, and increased need of natural & organic supplements have fuelled the demand for Curcumin in the past few years, thus propelling the growth of the curcumin market. In addition, factors such as living a healthy life, rise in demand for organic-based foods as well as Ayurvedic medicinal formulations, and innovations in pharmaceutical & skincare products using curcumin have supplemented the growth of the global curcumin market. However, the presence of cheaper synthetic food colorants and formulation challenges in curcumin-based products affect the growth of the market. Inclusion of curcumin in Ayurvedic as well as herbal nutritional supplements and skincare products is expected to increase the popularity and demand for curcumin in the coming years.

Curcumin is used as an important ingredient in many medical and food applications owing to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cartilage building properties. Pharmaceutical industries are actively trying to formulate curcumin-based medicines in the form of powder, capsules, and syrups for treatment of numerous diseases and health problems such as healing wounds, treating sprains, arthritis, liver problems, diabetes, gastric problems, Alzheimer, and migraine. Increase in scope of its application in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry is expected to boost the growth of the curcumin market.

Curcumin Market: Dynamics

Recently, the volumetric demand for curcumin has surged, owing to the shift of end users from synthetic products to natural products due to rising awareness. Increasing focus of researchers towards natural products and the commercialization of curcumin to exploit its properties are the key factors driving the curcumin market. Majority of the demand for curcumin stems from dietary supplement and pharmaceutical industries and hence, the growth of these industries will drive the curcumin market as well. Being a developing market, a vast opportunity exists for new products and production technologies. With optimistic support from governments for natural products and restrictions on synthetic products, the curcumin market is expected to experience significant growth.

Furthermore, turmeric is also used in canned beverages, baked items, yellow cakes, sauces, dairy items, popcorn, sweets, cereals, cake icings, ice creams, orange juices, and biscuits. It also finds a spectrum of applications in cosmetics and medicines apart from food items. Apparently, turmeric is also used in botanical    supplements as well as alternative treatments for chronic inflammatory ailments like asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. It has found massive usage in Ayurveda, Chinese medicine, Egyptian medicine, and Kampo, a Japanese medicine since many centuries. With its massive use in digestive orders for reducing flatus, colic, and menstrual problems in women as well as abdominal pain & appetite loss, the market is likely to gain traction over the forthcoming years. The antiseptic, nephron protective, cardio-protective, radio protective, local anesthetic, choleretic, carminative, and hepatoprotective actions of turmeric has made it more popular across the globe.