Protective effects of diphenylheptanes from Curcuma phaeocaulis Val. on H2O2 induced cell injury

Vinegar-processed Curcuma phaeocaulis promotes anti-angiogenic activity and reduces toxicity in zebrafish and rat models

CONTEXT

Processing with vinegar could enhance the efficacy and reduce the toxicity of Curcuma phaeocaulis Valeton. (Zingiberaceae), a Chinese herbal medicine with anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the vinegar processing effects by evaluating anti-angiogenic effect and toxicity of C. phaeocaulis through zebrafish and rat models.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Zebrafish embryos (AB and FLk-GFP strain) were applied to evaluate toxicity, cardiotoxicity and anti-angiogenic activity of volatile oil, and water decoction of the raw and vinegar-processed C. phaeocaulis. Meanwhile, a blood stasis syndrome rat model was applied to study the toxicity by measuring the ovarian and uterine coefficient.

RESULTS

Curcuma phaeocaulis volatile oil and its vinegar-processed products in zebrafish had an LC₅₀ of 67.315 and 95.755 μg/mL, respectively. Curcuma phaeocaulis water decoction and its vinegar-processed products had an LC₅₀ of 161.440 and 206.239 μg/mL, respectively. The toxicity of vinegar-processed products was significantly lower than the raw, and the development characteristic of zebrafish embryos at different times confirmed these results. The volatile oil of vinegar-processed products could inhibit the growth of intersegmental blood vessels at the dose of 20 μg/mL, while the raw materials did not exhibit such effect at the same concentration. The rat experiment also confirmed that the volatile oil could reduce toxicity of ovarian and uterine.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

The study indicated that processing using vinegar could decrease toxicity and increase anti-angiogenic activity of C. phaeocaulis, which could be applied for clinical treatment. Further in-depth study on the synergism and detoxification mechanism of vinegar processing technology is needed.

Sesquiterpenoids from the Rhizomes of Curcuma phaeocaulis and Their Inhibitory Effects on LPS-Induced TLR4 Activation

Two new guaiane-type (2, 6) and one new furanogermacrane-type (11) sesquiterpenoids have been isolated along with twelve known compounds from an EtOAc-soluble extract of Curcuma phaeocaulis rhizomes. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated using a combination of NMR, MS, and circular dichroism (CD) spectra. The inhibitory effects of each compound on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) activation in THP-1-Blue cells were assessed, and compound 4 showed more potent inhibitory activity against LPS-stimulated TLR4 activation.