SYNTHESIS OF SOME SYMMETRICAL CURCUMIN DERIVATIVES AND THEIR ANTIINFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY

Curcumin is not only a frequently used food additive, but it is also a well-known constituent of Indonesian traditional medicines. Several b eneficial effects are ascribed to curcumin, eg, its antiinflammatory p roperties. In order to study the antiinflammatory activity, a series o f curcumin derivatives were prepared and the inhibition of the carrage enin-induced oedema by these compounds was established. It appeared th at the pam hydroxy groups in curcumin are important for antiinflammato ry activity. This activity is enhanced when, in combination with the p ara hydroxy groups, the meta positions are occupied with alkyl groups. Since the methyl derivatives are more active than the corresponding e thyl and tert-butyl derivatives, it is suggested that sterical hindran ce is involved.