Bisdemethoxycurcumin
A yellow pigment and curcuminoid found in turmeric root
No single value: Bisdemethoxycurcumin is a material, and its colour varies. The background shows its family, yellow.
Bisdemethoxycurcumin is a yellow pigment present in turmeric (Curcuma longa) along with curcumin and demethoxycurcumin. Used as a pigment and nutraceutical, it stands out for its resistance to alkaline degradation and antioxidant properties.
- Found in turmeric but not in Javanese turmeric
- Used as a pigment and nutraceutical
- More resistant to alkaline degradation than other curcuminoids
- Has antioxidant properties
What colour is Bisdemethoxycurcumin?
Bisdemethoxycurcumin is one of three main yellow pigments found in turmeric root, alongside curcumin and demethoxycurcumin. It gives turmeric part of its characteristic yellow colour. This compound is notable for being more stable than the other curcuminoids when exposed to alkaline conditions. It is not present in Javanese turmeric.
Where does Bisdemethoxycurcumin come from?
The name bisdemethoxycurcumin comes from its chemical structure, which is related to curcumin but lacks two methoxy groups. It is naturally found in the roots of Curcuma longa, the plant commonly known as turmeric. Its presence helps distinguish turmeric from related species.
How is Bisdemethoxycurcumin made?
Bisdemethoxycurcumin is extracted from the root of the turmeric plant (Curcuma longa). It is separated from other curcuminoids through chemical processes. It does not occur in Javanese turmeric, which contains different compounds.
Where Bisdemethoxycurcumin is used
This pigment is used both as a colouring agent and as a nutraceutical, which means it is added to foods or supplements for potential health benefits. Its resistance to alkaline degradation makes it useful in products that require stability in different pH conditions.
Yellow around the world
What the yellow family means from country to country.
The yellow disc of the Aboriginal flag is the sun, giver of life. The flag was designed by the Luritja artist Harold Thomas and first flown in Adelaide in 1971.
Sacred and holySource: Australian Aboriginal flagAt the gaye holud, held a day or two before a wedding, relatives rub turmeric paste on the bride and groom. Guests dress in yellow and orange.
Weddings and marriageFestival and celebrationJoySource: Gaye holudOn Pohela Falgun, the first day of spring, young women wear yellow and orange saris, a shade called basanti, with flowers in their hair.
Festival and celebrationNature and renewalJoySource: Pohela FalgunThe Flemish flag is a black lion on yellow, and the Walloon flag a red cockerel on yellow. The language communities are often shown by these colours.
Politics and protestPrideSource: Flag of FlandersThe flag is yellow, the colour of the Sultan. By custom, ordinary people did not wear yellow in the ruler's presence.
Royalty and powerPrideSource: Flag of BruneiThe national football team plays in a yellow shirt with green trim, the canarinho. It was chosen in a newspaper contest after the 1950 World Cup final was lost in white.
Festival and celebrationPrideJoySource: Brazil national football teamShades and relatives of Bisdemethoxycurcumin
Bisdemethoxycurcumin is closely related to curcumin and demethoxycurcumin, which are also found in turmeric. These compounds share similar yellow colours but differ slightly in chemical structure and stability. Sometimes, they are confused with each other in extracts.
Questions people ask about Bisdemethoxycurcumin
What colour is bisdemethoxycurcumin?
Bisdemethoxycurcumin is a yellow pigment found in turmeric root, contributing to its colour.
Where does the name bisdemethoxycurcumin come from?
The name refers to its chemical structure, which is similar to curcumin but without two methoxy groups.
What is bisdemethoxycurcumin used for?
It is used as a pigment in foods and as a nutraceutical, valued for its antioxidant properties.
How is bisdemethoxycurcumin different from curcumin?
It is more resistant to alkaline degradation and differs slightly in chemical structure from curcumin.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Bisdemethoxycurcumin", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Rang rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. The swatch is an approximation: named colours are not fixed standards, and every screen shows them a little differently. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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