To evaluate the accuracy, the recoveries were carried out a spik-
ing experiment. The recovery rates were determined by adding a
mixture of all curcuminoids (four different concentrations: 0.1,
0.2, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/l) in methanol to 0.5 g of various food items
and extracted as described above. The extracts were then subjected
to HPLC determination (Assução & Mercadante, 2003). All samples
were analysed with three replications.