A New Dihomosesquiterpene, Termioic Acid A, from Curcuma aromatica

A new iridoid from the roots of Valeriana jatamansi Jones with α-glucosidase activity

One new iridoid namely rupesin F (1) together with four known ones (2-5) were isolated from the roots of Valeriana jatamansi Jones. The structures were established using spectroscopic methods (1D and 2D NMR including HSQC, HMBC, COSY and NOESY) and by comparison with previously published literature data. The isolated compounds 1 and 3 exhibited strong α-glucosidase inhibition activity with IC50 values of 10.13 ± 0.11 and 9.13 ± 0.03 μg/mL, respectively. This study enriched the chemical diversity of metabolites and provides a direction for the development of antidiabetic agents.

Potent nitric oxide inhibitory sesquiterpenoids from the rhizome of Curcuma aromatica Salisb

One new sesquiterpenoid, curcaromatin (1), together with twenty-one known compounds 2-22, were isolated from the rhizomes of Curcuma aromatica Salisb. (Zingiberaceae). Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic (1D and 2D NMR and HR-MS) analysis. Most of the isolated compounds were investigated for nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW264.7 cells. (-)-Xanthorrhizol (3) displayed the strongest NO inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 4.3 μM, which was 3.7-fold more active than the reference compound, aminoguanidine (IC50 15.9 μM). The selectivity index (SI > 28.1) of compound 3 was almost 3-fold higher than that of aminoguanidine.

In Vitro Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Oxidant, and Cytotoxic Activities of Four Curcuma Species and the Isolation of Compounds from Curcuma aromatica Rhizome

The genus Curcuma is part of the Zingiberaceae family, and many Curcuma species have been used as traditional medicine and cosmetics in Thailand. To find new cosmeceutical ingredients, the in vitro anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and cytotoxic activities of four Curcuma species as well as the isolation of compounds from the most active crude extract (C. aromatica) were investigated. The crude extract of C. aromatica showed 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity with an IC₅₀ value of 102.3 μg/mL. The cytotoxicity effect of C. aeruginosa, C. comosa, C. aromatica, and C. longa extracts assessed with the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay at 200 μg/mL were 12.1 ± 2.9, 14.4 ± 4.1, 28.6 ± 4.1, and 46.9 ± 8.6, respectively. C. aeruginosa and C. comosa presented apoptosis cells (57.7 ± 3.1% and 32.6 ± 2.2%, respectively) using the CytoTox-ONE™ assay. Different crude extracts or phytochemicals purified from C. aromatica were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory properties. The crude extract of C. aromatica showed the highest potential to inhibit NF-κB activity, followed by C. aeruginosa, C. comosa, and C. longa, respectively. Among the various purified phytochemicals curcumin, germacrone, curdione, zederone, and curcumenol significantly inhibited NF-κB activation in tumor necrosis factor (TNF) stimulated HaCaT keratinocytes. Of all compounds, curcumin was the most potent anti-inflammatory.

Concordance between cardio-protective effect on isoproterenol-induced acute myocardial ischemia and phenolic content of different extracts of Curcuma aromatica

CONTEXT

A classic traditional Chinese medicine Curcuma aromatica Salisb. (Zingiberaceae) has been reported to have favourable effects on the cardiovascular system.

OBJECTIVE

To research the cardio-protective effect of different C. aromatica hydroalcoholic extracts on isoproterenol (ISO)-induced acute myocardial ischemia (AMI) in rats. The total phenols in different extracts were detected simultaneously.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The rhizomes of C. aromatica dry powder were refluxed with 30%, 50%, 70% and 90% hydroalcoholic solvents to obtain different extracts. Rats were pretreated with four C. aromatica extracts (150 mg/kg/day, i.g.) for 9 days and then given ISO (30 mg/kg/day, s.c.) for 2 consecutive days, respectively. Heart rate, ST-segment, T-wave and serum levels of CK-MB, LDH, TAC, SOD, NO and MDA were measured. Total phenols of the different extracts were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu assay.

RESULTS

Pretreatment with C. aromatica significantly decreased the elevated levels of serum specific cardiac injury biomarkers (CK-MB and LDH), the serum level of MDA, the ST-segment and T-wave. In addition, C. aromatica increased the heart rate, as well as the levels of TAC, SOD and NO, compared to ISO-induced controls. The total phenols in the 70% extract were higher than in the other extracts reaching 5.629 ± 0.037 mg/g, crude drug.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Curcuma aromatica hydroalcoholic extracts exhibited remarkable cardio-protective effects against AMI in rats. The 70% extracts showed the strongest bioactivity. These results indicate that ethanol concentration in preparation of extracts of C. aromatica plays an important role in the protective effect against AMI.