Pectin-curcumin composite was synthesized in a reaction mediated by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and dimethylaminopyridine. The formation of pectin-curcumin composite was confirmed by FTIR and NMR spectral analyses. The results of differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy studies established that the composite is amorphous in nature. The curcumin contents in the composite were found to be 384.39 mu g/g of the composite. The critical aggregation concentration determined by fluorescence spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering technique was found to be in the range of 140-180 mu g/mL. The results of in silico molecular mechanistic simulations of the interaction between pectin and curcumin revealed the stability of pectin-curcumin composite, which favored its formation. In vitro release study showed 93% (pH 1.2) and 46% (pH 7.4) of curcumin getting released in 48 h. Further, the release of curcumin from the composite followed first-order (pH 1.2) and zero-order (pH 7.4) kinetics, with anomalous release mechanism. Further, the results of cytotoxicity studies showed a significantly higher inhibition of KYSE-30 cell lines by composite over curcumin. Thus, coupling of curcumin to pectin improves its therapeutic delivery and efficacy.