ABSTRACT
Abstract The aim of the work was to estimate the quality of some compositions in turmeric volatile oil and quantity of individual and total curcuminoids in turmeric powder dried under different conditions. Effect of convection time (0-30 min) and microwave time (20-60 min) on quality of volatile oil compositions and quantity of curcuminoids were investigated using computer software. Quality of volatile oil obtained from the hydrodistillation of dried turmeric was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The quantity of individual curcuminoids (bisdemethoxycurcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and curcumin) and total curcuminoids were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. Ten volatile compounds in turmeric volatile oil were used to estimate the variation of their quality. Results showed that ar-turmerone, turmerone, and curlone were the three major compounds found in turmeric volatile oil. The quality of the ten volatile compounds varied depending on convection time and microwave time. The three principal curcuminoids were found in turmeric dried at long convection time and medium microwave time. However, curcumin was also found in high amount in turmeric dried at short convection time and long microwave time. Total curcuminoids in dried turmeric were equal to or greater than 5% (w/w) as stated in the Thai Herbal Pharmacopoeia. It was found that almost all of the drying procedure achieved the standard of the Thai Herbal Pharmacopoeia except at short convection time and short microwave time. In summary, convection combined with microwave drying affected the quality of volatile oil compositions and quantity of curcuminoids of turmeric raw material.
ABSTRACT
The purpose of the study was to evaluate the relationship between health behavior and pain scale in patients with low back pain. One hundred eighty patients with low back pain attending the Orthopedic Unit at Sapasithiprasong Hospital in Thailand participated in the study. The participants completed a questionnaire related to demographic data and preventive health behavior, illness health behavior and sick role health behavior. Statistical analysis was used to calculate means, standard deviations and percentages, multiple regression evaluated the relationship between demographic data and pain scale, and Pearson's correlation assessed the relationship between the three health behaviors and pain scale. Generally, the results showed most participants had a lower quality of health behavior. The most common causes of low back pain were lifting heavy loads, incorrect positioning and everyday activity (43.9, 17.8 and 10.6%, respectively). The level of participant's income was found to be statistically relevant to pain scale (p < 0.05). There was also a statistically significant association between the three health behaviors and pain scale (p = 0.0001, 0.005, 0.0001, respectively). The findings of this study illustrate the crucial role that Thai health care professionals play in changing the health behavior of patients with low back pain in order to improve the patient's quality of life.