The selective enzyme assisted extraction of curcumin was developed and optimized from Curcuma longa. When water was used as solvent, 3% of curcumin were extracted representing a search for an interesting alternative for the extraction in industrial processes. A selective extraction process after the treatment with enzymes is proposed by using 30% (v/v) methanol which releases up to 15% of the curcumin, present in the rhizome. The optimal conditions were as follows: pH value was 5.5, concentration of cellulase solution was 2.5 mg/mL, incubation time was 8 h, incubation temperature was 50 ºC and solid:solvent ratio was 1:8 . Enzyme-assisted extraction was proved to be environment-friendly and economical, and could be used in natural product extraction in large scale.