OBJECTIVE   To investigate the effects of micronization on the curcumin powder and to analyze the chemical powder properties and dissolution rate.

  METHODS   Low temperature planet mill was used to prepare three different micro powder with certain technological conditions. The difference between original powder and micro powder was detected by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray powder diffraction analysis (XRD). Meanwhile, dissolution test and stability test were also applied to compare different size of micro powder.

  RESULTS   After micronization, the particle size of curcumin powder gradually decreased, and micronization showed no significant effect on the melting point and hygroscopicity of curcumin, but the degree of compression of micropowder gradually increased, the angle of repose increased, and the micropowder was more prone to agglomeration; In the dissolution medium of pH1.2 and pH6.8, the dissolution rate and cumulative dissolution rate of curcumin and demethoxycurcumin in micronized curcumin were significantly improved, which had a certain correlation with the particle size. The dissolution rates of the micropowder of different particle sizes were slightly reduced under the accelerated stability conditions for 3 months.

  CONCLUSION   Micronization technology can change the powder properties of natural curcumin which had certain application value to promote the absorption of curcumin.