The photosensitizing activity of curcumin was tested in corn oil and oil‐in‐water (O/W) emulsion systems under visible light irradiation. In addition, the antioxidative/prooxidative properties of curcumin were evaluated in corn oil at 100 °C and in O/W emulsion at room temperature under riboflavin photosensitization or at 60 °C in the dark. Curcumin acted as a photosensitizer in corn oil and O/W emulsions . The oxidative stability of corn oil samples containing curcumin (0–5.0 mmol/kg oil) were not significantly different (p > 0.05) at 100 °C, implying curcumin did not act as an antioxidant nor a prooxidant in corn oil. However, curcumin inhibited lipid oxidation in O/W emulsions under riboflavin photosensitization at room temperature and 60 °C in the dark. The photosensitization and antioxidant abilities of curcumin were greatly influenced by matrix types and presence of riboflavin. Therefore, antioxidative or prooxidative characteristics of curcumin should be evaluated considering matrix type including bulk oil or O/W emulsions and presence of visible light irradiation.

No abstract