Application of UV-Vis spectrophotometric and chemiluminescent methods for the evaluation of the antioxidant action of curcumin

Curcumin (1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione) is a natural biologically active substance with antioxidant activity. The ability of curcumin to inhibit free radical reactions can be used in the prevention of diseases such as cancer and coronary heart disease. UV-Vis spectrophotometric and chemiluminescent dynamic methods for determination of the antioxidant activity of curcumin were developed. The spectrophotometric method includes investigation of the interaction between DNA, isolated from HL-60 cells, and curcumin. The decreasing absorption of curcumin in the presence of HL-60 DNA against the blank sample can be a measurement for some complex formation between curcumin and DNA. The chemiluminescent method involves three tests for the detection of luminol- dependent chemiluminescence based on model systems that generate superoxide, hydroxide and hypochlorite radicals. The strongest decay of chemilunimescence was registered at the highest concentration of curcumin (100 mu mol L-1).