CAS 458-37-7 · HS 32030090

Curcumin

Curcumin is the principal yellow-orange polyphenol of turmeric and the molecule responsible for most of the spice's colour and bioactivity. It is a diarylheptanoid, also known as diferuloylmethane, with the formula C₂₁H₂₀O₆.

In commerce, curcumin most often refers to a purified extract assayed at 95 percent total curcuminoids, of which roughly 70 to 80 percent is curcumin itself, with demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin making up the balance.

We source bulk Curcumin from top China manufacturers for our partners, working with several of them. The manufacturers are in Hebei, Zhejiang and Guangdong. For this ingredient the minimum order is 500 kg and a 20-foot container takes 10 MT, and a smaller requirement can ship in a combined container with other ingredients.

Please send the grade you need, the volume and your destination port, and we will come back with a solution and a price.

or call +86-21-6858 0751

Curcumin
Minimum order
500 kg
Qty in 20' FCL
10 MT
Packaging
20 kg fibre drum, light-shielded
  • ISO 9001
  • HACCP
  • Halal
  • Kosher

Specifications

Grades / Types Available: Food Grade, Pharmaceutical Grade

ItemSpecification
AppearanceYellow-orange powder
Curcumin Content≥ 95% (extract) / 2-5% (oleoresin)
Moisture≤ 5.0%
Solvent Residue≤ 50 mg/kg
Heavy Metals (as Pb)≤ 2 mg/kg
Arsenic≤ 3 mg/kg
Total Plate Count≤ 1,000 cfu/g
Purity/Assay (Food Grade)≥ 95%
Moisture/Loss on Drying≤ 5%
pH6.0 - 7.0
Particle Size/Mesh100% pass through 80 mesh
Lead≤ 1 ppm
Yeast & Mold≤ 100 cfu/g

Common Markets Grades

Curcumin is graded at several purity tiers depending on the end use.

The 95 percent total curcuminoids grade is the standard for nutritional supplements, functional foods, and natural colour blends. It is typically a fine, intense orange-yellow powder, low in residual oleoresin volatiles.

Higher-purity grades at 98 to 99 percent curcumin (single isomer) are produced by recrystallisation for pharmaceutical research, reference standards, and clinical-trial material.

Food-colour grade curcumin powders and water-dispersible liquid formulations are sold under E100, often blended with carriers such as polysorbate 80, modified starch, or gum arabic to handle the molecule's poor water solubility.

Bioavailability-enhanced formats, including phytosome complexes with phosphatidylcholine, micellar dispersions, and gamma-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes, are positioned for the top end of the dietary supplement market.

Applications

  • Dietary supplements positioned for joint comfort, antioxidant support, and inflammation balance
  • Curry pastes, mustards, pickles, and savory sauces as a primary colour and flavour contributor
  • Cheese, butter, and margarine where a deep golden tone is desired
  • Bakery and confectionery for yellow shading in cakes, icings, and gummies
  • Beverage mixes including golden milk, wellness shots, and instant tea blends
  • Liquid and capsule formulations combined with piperine or lecithin for absorption enhancement
  • Cosmetic and personal-care products including masks, brightening serums, and soap bars
  • Pharmaceutical preparations as a colouring excipient in tablets and syrups
  • Pet supplements targeting senior-dog joint and mobility support
  • Natural textile and craft dyeing for cotton, silk, and wool
  • Reference material in analytical chemistry and pharmacology research
  • Functional snacks and protein bars where the flavour of turmeric itself is too earthy

China Manufacturers of Curcumin

How We Help Source Curcumin

  • Direct Factory Sourcing

    We run the whole process: selecting the manufacturer from the top Chinese food ingredient producers, negotiating the price, verifying quality, and coordinating the logistics. You deal with us instead of with several factories at once.

  • Original Packaging and Documents from the Manufacturer

    The manufacturer sends your Curcumin out of its own factory in the original packing, through to your destination port. The COA, COO, MSDS, TDS and any certifications reach you from the manufacturer as well.

  • Free Samples and Lead Time

    We send 100 to 500 g free for your own laboratory to test and you cover only the courier, usually within 2 to 3 working days. ETD is usually within 7 to 15 days once the order is confirmed, and we check that date against the factory's own manufacturing schedule before we give it to you.

  • Combined Shipment

    We can load Curcumin together with other ingredients such as Astaxanthin, Dehydrated Garlic and Lutein into one 20' FCL. If your quantity is small, we can also ship LCL.

Regulatory Status

Curcumin is permitted as a food colour in essentially all major jurisdictions.

In the European Union, Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 approves it under the food-additive number E100 for many food categories at quantum satis or specified maximum levels.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration lists turmeric and turmeric oleoresin as colour additives exempt from certification under 21 CFR 73.600 and 73.615 for general food use. Curcumin itself is also recognised as GRAS for use as a colour and flavour.

JECFA has evaluated curcumin and assigned an acceptable daily intake for the purified material. Japan permits curcumin as an existing natural colour additive under the Food Sanitation Act.

Pharmacopoeial monographs for curcumin and turmeric appear in the United States Pharmacopeia, the European Pharmacopoeia, and the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Halal and Kosher certifications are commonly available.

Manufacturing Process

Curcumin manufacturing starts with dried Curcuma longa rhizomes grown principally in India, with smaller volumes from Indonesia, Vietnam, and Peru.

The rhizomes are washed, sliced, and solvent-extracted with ethanol, acetone, ethyl acetate, or hexane to yield turmeric oleoresin, a viscous dark mass containing 30 to 55 percent curcuminoids alongside essential oils and resins.

The oleoresin is then washed with isopropanol or hexane to strip non-pigment lipophilic material. The curcuminoid fraction is recrystallised one or more times from a polar solvent such as ethanol, producing the standardised 95 percent total curcuminoids powder.

For higher purity, the three curcuminoids are separated by silica-gel column chromatography or preparative HPLC, then individually recrystallised. The whole sequence is solvent-intensive, and residual-solvent specifications are a routine quality concern.