Separation of the curcuminoids was carried out using gradient elution. The mobile phase consisted of two eluents: A, 0.1% acetic acid in acetonitrile (Fisher Scientific, Pittsburgh, PA), and B, 0.1% acetic acid in HPLC-grade water (Fisher). The eluent composition was varied linearly from 50% to 100% A over the period 0 to 10 min with a plateau at 100% A from 10 to 11 min. The composition returned to 50% A over the period 11 to 12 min followed by a reconditioning at 50% A from 12 to 20 min. The flow rate was 0.5 ml/min, and the column was a Phenomenex Aqua (Phenomenex, Torrance, CA) endcapped C18 having dimensions 150 × 4.6 mm with a 5-μm particle size. The column was heated at 40°C, and the samples were stored at room temperature in the autosampler. The total analysis time was 20 min. A volume of 25 μl was injected. Retention times for the two monitored curcuminoid peaks were 6.4 and 9.6 min.