Optimization of Supercritical CO_(2) Extraction of Curcumin by Response Surface Methodology and Its Antioxidant Activity

[Objectives]This study was conducted to establish a mathematical model for supercritical CO_(2) extraction of curcumin.[Methods]With ginger as the experimental raw material,a quadratic polynomial mathematical model of the yield of curcumin extracted by supercritical CO_(2) was established by response surface methodology(RSM).The validity of the mathematical model was verified,and the effects of extraction temperature(60-70℃),pressure(30-50 MPa)and time(70-90 min)on curcumin yield were analyzed.[Results]According to the model,the process parameters were optimized.Taking curcumin yield as the index,the optimal process conditions for supercritical CO_(2) extraction obtained were:temperature 62.6℃,pressure 37.7 MPa,time 82.9 min,under which the yield of curcumin was as high as 7.34%.Under the optimal extraction conditions,curcumin had a certain reducing capacity,and showed strong scavenging capacities to·OH,O_(2)^(-)·and DPPH,and its IC_(50) values were 9.40,9.03 and 8.04 mg/ml,respectively.Therefore,it is feasible to extract curcumin from ginger using supercritical CO_(2).[Conclusions]This study provides a theoretical basis for the development and utilization of curcumin.