'preparation of curcumin nanoparticles and evaluation of their bio-efficacy'

摘要

The present invention relates to a process and a method for preparation of nanoparticles of curcumin from aqueous solution of commercially available curcumin. The method is simple and does not involve any chemical treatment for preparation of nano-curcumin. The SEM images of the nano-curcumin showed that its particle size is in the range of 80-250 nm. The evaluation of the bio-efficacy of the curcumin nanoparticles in terms of cytoprotective efficiency, maintaining mitochondrial integrity and antimicrobial efficiency and its comparison with the normal curcumin has been described herein. Nano curcumin is better than normal curcumin in terms of cytoprotection and maintains the mitochondrial integrity. It has also proved to be a more effective antimicrobial agent. This indicates that lowering down the particle size from micron to nano range significantly improves the solubility, bioavailabilty and effectiveness of curcumin. The reason behind enhanced activity is that nanoparticles have a very high surface area to volume ratio, which makes the particles very reactive or catalytic. They are easier to pass through cell membranes in organisms and get interacted rapidly with biological systems. Therefore nanocurcumin holds a great potential in the treatment of various pathogenic microbial diseases.