curcumin and curcumol

Over the past decades curcuminoids have been extensively studied for their biological activities such as antiulcer, antifibrotic, antiviral, antibacterial, antiprotozoal, antimutagenic, antifertility, antidiabetic, anticoagulant, antivenom, antioxidant, antihypotensive, antihypocholesteremic, and anticancer activities. With the perception of limited toxicity and cost, these compounds forms an integral part of cancer research and is well established as a potential anticancer agent. However, only few studies have focused on the other bioactive molecules of turmeric, known as non-curcuminoids, which are also equally potent as curcuminoids. This review aims to explore the comprehensive potency including the identification, physicochemical properties, and anticancer mechanism inclusive of molecular docking studies of non-curcuminoids such as turmerones, elemene, furanodiene (FN), bisacurone, germacrone, calebin A (CA), curdione, and cyclocurcumin. An insight into the clinical studies of these curcumin-free compounds are also discussed which provides ample evidence that favors the therapeutic potential of these compounds. Like curcuminoids, limited solubility and bioavailability are the most fragile domain, which circumscribe further applications of these compounds. Thus, this review credits the encapsulation of non-curcuminoid components in diverse drug delivery systems such as co-crystals, solid lipid nanoparticles, liposomes, microspheres, polar-non-polar sandwich (PNS) technology, which help abolish their shortcomings and flaunt their ostentatious benefits as anticancer activities.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Curcuma; Drug Carriers; Furans; Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring; Microspheres; Nanoparticles; Neoplasms; Sesquiterpenes

Disordered collagen production by fibroblasts in response to tissue injury contributes to pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Therefore, elimination of collagen deposition has becoming a potential target in PF treatment which despite standard anti-fibrosis regiment still remains challenge. Curcumin and curcumol are regarded as the main active components extraction from the rhizomes of Curcuma zedoaria, which is widely used for inhibition the proliferation of multiple cells. However, the molecular basis for the function of curcumin and curcumol in limiting fibrogenesis still unknown. In this study, we have investigated the effects of curcumin and curcumol in the fibroblast overproliferation model human lung fibroblast (HLF) inducing by TGF-β1. The growth-inhibitory effects of the components wasn't observed from 8 to 64 μg/ml. Administration of curcumin or curcumol significantly diminished the level of hydroxyproline hydroxyproline and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), also the collagen Ⅰ (Col-Ⅰ) and collagen Ⅲ (Col-Ⅲ) deposition were reduced in the HLF. Furthermore, related to the collagen synthesis proteins including N-terminal pro-peptide for Type Ⅰ collagen (PⅠNP), N-terminal pro-peptide for Type Ⅲ collagen (PⅢNP) and prolyl-hydroxylase (PHD) were degraded gracefully at dose-dependent manner. Autophagy as the scavenger was crippled in TGF-β1-fibroblast overproliferation HLF, conversely the increased autophagosomes have been spotted in cytoplasm under transmission electron microscope which is consistent with up-regulation of Beclin1 and ATG7 after treatment with curcumin or curcumol in this study. Additionally, blocking autophagy by inhibitor chloroquine (CQ) caused collagen deposition, providing further evidence regard to autophagy activation capacity of curcumin and curcumol. Our findings provide a detailed understanding that the function of curcumin and curcumol on decreasing collagen deposition mediating by autophagy mechanism, which may also inspire the further research on PF at different perspectives.

Topics: Autophagy; Cells, Cultured; Collagen; Curcuma; Curcumin; Fibroblasts; Humans; Plant Extracts; Pulmonary Fibrosis; Sesquiterpenes

Phytophthora capsici is a plant oomycete pathogen, which causes many devastating diseases on a broad range of hosts. Zedoary turmeric oil (ZTO) is a kind of natural plant essential oil that has been widely used in pharmaceutical applications. However, the antifungal activity of ZTO against phytopathogens remains unknown. In this study, we found ZTO could inhibit P. capsici growth and development in vitro and in detached cucumber and Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Besides, ZTO treatment resulted in severe damage to the cell membrane of P. capsici, leading to the leakage of intracellular contents. ZTO also induced a significant increase in relative conductivity, malondialdehyde concentration and glycerol content. Furthermore, we identified 50 volatile organic compounds from ZTO, and uncovered Curcumol, β-elemene, curdione and curcumenol with strong inhibitory activities against mycelial growth of P. capsici. Overall, our results not only shed new light on the antifungal mechanism of ZTO, but also imply a promising alternative for the control of phytophthora blight caused by P. capsici.

Topics: Antifungal Agents; Cell Membrane; Curcuma; Oils, Volatile; Phytophthora; Plant Extracts; Plant Oils; Sesquiterpenes; Sesquiterpenes, Germacrane

Curcuma kwangsiensis S. G. Lee & C. F. Liang (Guangxi ezhu, in Chinese) belongs to the Zingiberaceae family, has been used as a traditionally Chinese medicine nearly 2000 year. Curcumol is one of the guaiane-type sesquiterpenoid hemiketal isolated from medicine plant Curcuma kwangsiensis S. G. Lee & C. F. Liang, which has been reported possesses anti-cancer effects. Our previous study found that the most contribution to inhibit nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell growth was curcumol.. To assess the effect of curcumol on cell cycle arrest against human colon cancer cells (CRC) cells (LoVo and SW480) and explore its mechanism in vitro and in vivo.. Curcumol was dissolved in absolute ethyl alcohol. The concentration of absolute ethyl alcohol in the control group or in experimental samples was always 1/500 (v/v) of the final medium volume. LoVo and SW480 cells were treated with different concentrations of curcumol (0, 53, 106, 212 and 424μM). And then the cell cycle of each group was examined by flow cytometry. The protein levels of PI3K, p-Akt, cyclin D1, cyclin E, CDK2, CDK4 and GSK3β were determined by Western blot. The mRNA expression of PI3K, Akt, cyclin D1, CDK4, P27, p21, and P16 in the treated cells were analyzed by real-time RT-PCR. In addition, the antitumor activity of curcumol was evaluated in nude mice bearing orthotopic tumor implants.. Curcumol induced cell cycle arrest in G1/S phase. RT-qPCR and Western blot data showed that curcumol enhanced the expression of GSK3β, P27, p21 and P16, and decreased the levels of PI3K, phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt), cyclin D1, CDK4, cyclin E and CDK2. Furthermore, curcumol induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in LoVo cells, and ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine (NAC) significantly reversed curcumol-induced cell growth inhibition. Besides, curcumol also prevented the growth of human colon cancer cells xenografts in nude mouse, accompanied by the reduction of PI3K, Akt, cyclin D1, CDK4, cycln E and significant increase of GSK3β.. Curcumol caused cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase by ROS production and Akt/ GSK3β/cyclin D1 pathways inactivation, indicating the potential of curcumol in the prevention of colon cancer carcinogenesis.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Cell Cycle Checkpoints; Cell Line, Tumor; Colonic Neoplasms; Curcuma; Cyclin D1; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Flow Cytometry; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; Humans; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Nude; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Reactive Oxygen Species; Sesquiterpenes; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Curcumol has recently attracted special attention due to its potential activities in many chronic disorders. Moreover, the traditional role of turmeric [Curcuma longa L. (Zingiberaceae)] in suppression of hyperglycemia is of great interest.. The present work explores the potential acute and subchronic antihyperglycemic, antinociceptive, and in vivo antioxidant effects of curcumol in alloxan-diabetic mice.. Bio-guided fractionation, column-chromatography, and GC-MS were utilized to identify the most active compound of turmeric (curcumol). Turmeric (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg), the curcumol rich fraction (CRF) (7 mg/kg), and curcumol (20, 30, and 40 mg/kg) were assessed for their acute (6 h) and subchronic (8 d) antihyperglycemic potentials and antinociceptive effects (8 weeks) were measured, using hot-plate and tail-flick latencies and von-Frey filaments method and in vivo antioxidant effects in alloxan-diabetic mice.. The most-active turmeric fraction was found to be rich in curcumol (45.5%) using GC-MS analysis method. The results proved that the highest dose levels of turmeric extract and curcumol exerted remarkable hypoglycemic activity with 41.4 and 39.3% drop in the mice glucose levels after 6 h, respectively. Curcumol (40 mg/kg) was found to be 9.4% more potent than turmeric extract (100 mg/kg) in subchronic management of diabetes. Curcumol also showed a significant improvement of peripheral nerve function as observed from the latency and tactile tests.. The antioxidant potential of curcumol may cause its ability to ameliorate diabetes and diabetes-related complications.. Curcumol, a natural metabolite with a good safety-profile, showed results comparable with tramadol in reversing diabetes-induced tactile allodynia and hyperalgesia.

Topics: Alloxan; Analgesics; Animals; Antioxidants; Biomarkers; Blood Glucose; Curcuma; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; Diabetic Nephropathies; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Hyperalgesia; Hypoglycemic Agents; Male; Mice; Pain Threshold; Phytotherapy; Plants, Medicinal; Reaction Time; Rhizome; Sesquiterpenes; Time Factors

Curcuma phaeocaulis Val. is a Chinese medicinal herb that is contraindicated during pregnancy for over a thousand years in China. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the effect of curcumol (one of the major components of C. phaeocaulis Val.) on neurite outgrowth and characterize the signal transduction pathways in PC12 cells. Curcumol significantly inhibited neurite outgrowth and cell proliferation, but did not cause cell death at a concentration of 450 μM in differentiated PC12 cells. In addition, curcumol evoked oxidative stress and it was indicated by an elevation in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation (LPO). Although PC12 cells exhibited inhibition of the differentiation into the acetylcholine (ACh) phenotype following 450 μM curcumol exposure, there was no significant alteration in net shift toward the ACh phenotype or tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) phenotype was observed. Neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM)/focal adhesion kinase (FAK) but not extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) signaling was repressed by curcumol exposure in differentiated PC12 cells. Curcumol does not affect calpain activity and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) DNA-binding activity. These findings suggest that curcumol might be a developmental neurotoxicant and NCAM/FAK signaling pathway may play an important role in curcumol-evoked inhibition of neurite outgrowth.

Topics: Animals; Cell Culture Techniques; Cell Differentiation; Curcuma; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Neuronal Outgrowth; Oxidative Stress; PC12 Cells; Rats; Sesquiterpenes

To evaluate the properties of solidifying volatile oil with graphene oxide, clove oil and zedoary turmeric oil were solidified by graphene oxide. The amount of graphene oxide was optimized with the eugenol yield and curcumol yield as criteria. Curing powder was characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effects of graphene oxide on dissolution in vitro and thermal stability of active components were studied. The optimum solidification ratio of graphene oxide to volatile oil was 1:1. Dissolution rate of active components had rare influence while their thermal stability improved after volatile oil was solidified. Solidifying herbal volatile oil with graphene oxide deserves further study.

Topics: Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; Clove Oil; Curcuma; Eugenol; Graphite; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Oils, Volatile; Oxides; Plant Extracts; Powders; Sesquiterpenes

This study aims to develop a method for determination of beta-elemene, curcumol, germacrone and neocurdione in the volatile oil of Curcuma phaeocaulis, and to provide the basis of the quality control method for the volatile oil of C. phaeocaulis and the related preparations. Based on GC-MS, the 4 main compounds were simultaneously determined, with the internal standard n-tridecane. The Agilent 19091S-433 column (0.25 microm x 250 microm x 30 m) was adopted at the temperature of 250 degrees C, the programmed temperature method (60 degrees C for 1 min, 5 degrees C x min x to 110 degrees C for 5 min, 1 degrees C x min(-1) to 140 degrees C, 5 degrees C x min(-1) to 160 degrees C, 10 degrees C x min(-1) to 240 degrees C) was used. Helium gas was used as the carrier gas at a constant flow rat of 1 mL x min(-1), with an injection volume of 1 RL. Mass spectra were taken at 70 eV; the ion-source temperature was 200 degrees C. The relation time and character acteristic ions for each target compound were determined by full scan mode and SIM, and m/z 85.1, 93.1, 121.1, 107.1 and 180.1 were the detection ions of n-tridecane, beta-elemene, curcumol, germacrone and neocurdione. As a result, beta-elemene, curcumol, germacrone and neocurdione were all detected with good separation. They were all in a good linear relationship within each concentration scope. The average recovery rates were in the range of 98.2%-101%. So, the method can be used to control the quality of the volatile of C. phaeocaulis Val. and the preparations related.

Topics: Acetic Acid; Curcuma; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Oils, Volatile; Plant Oils; Sesquiterpenes; Sesquiterpenes, Germacrane

Rhizoma Curcumae is a common Chinese dietary spice used in South Asia and China for thousands of years. As the main extract, Rhizoma Curcumae oil has attracted a great interest due to its newly raised therapeutic activities including its pharmacological effects upon central nervous system such as neuroprotection, cognitive enhancement, and anti-seizure efficacy; however the molecular mechanisms and the target identification remain to be established. Here we characterize an inhibitory effect of curcumol, a major bioactive component of Rhizoma Curcumae oil, on the excitability of hippocampal neurons in culture, the basal locomotor activity of freely moving animals, and the chemically induced seizure activity in vivo. Electrophysiological recording showed that acute application of curcumol significantly facilitated the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-activated current in cultured mouse hippocampal neurons and in human embryonic kidney cells expressing α1- or α5-containing A type GABA (GABAA) receptors in a concentration-dependent manner. Measurement of tonic and miniature inhibitory postsynaptic GABAergic currents in hippocampal slices indicated that curcumol enhanced both forms of inhibition. In both pentylenetetrazole and kainate seizure models, curcumol suppressed epileptic activity in mice by prolonging the latency to clonic and tonic seizures and reducing the mortality as well as the susceptibility to seizure, presumably by facilitating the activation of GABAA receptors. Taken together, our results identified curcumol as a novel anti-seizure agent which inhibited neuronal excitability through enhancing GABAergic inhibition.

Topics: Animals; Anticonvulsants; Cells, Cultured; Curcuma; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Epilepsy; Exploratory Behavior; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; Glutamic Acid; Hippocampus; Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potentials; Male; Membrane Potentials; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Neurons; Receptors, GABA-A; Sesquiterpenes

Emerging evidence has suggested that inhibitory glycine receptors (GlyRs) are an important molecular target in the treatment of numerous neurological disorders. Rhizoma curcumae is a medicinal plant with positive neurological effects. In this study, we showed that curcumol, a major bioactive component of R. curcumae, reversibly and concentration-dependently inhibited the glycine-activated current (IGly) in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. The inhibitory effect was neither voltage- nor agonist concentration-dependent. Moreover, curcumol selectively inhibited homomeric α2-containing, but not α1- or α3-containing, GlyRs. The addition of β subunit conferred the curcumol sensitivity of α3-containing, but not α1-containing, GlyRs. Site-directed mutagenesis analysis revealed that a threonine at position 59 of the α2 subunit is critical for the susceptibility of GlyRs to curcumol-mediated inhibition. Furthermore, paralleling a decline of α2 subunit expression during spinal cord development, the degree of IGly inhibition by curcumol decreased with prolonged culture of rat spinal dorsal horn neurons. Taken together, our results suggest that the GlyRs are novel molecular targets of curcumol, which may underlie its pharmaceutical effects in the central nervous system.

Topics: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Cells, Cultured; Central Nervous System; Curcuma; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Electrophysiological Phenomena; Female; Hippocampus; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Molecular Sequence Data; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; Patch-Clamp Techniques; Pregnancy; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, GABA-A; Receptors, Glycine; Recombinant Proteins; Sesquiterpenes; Threonine

Phytochemical study on the ethanol extract of the radixes of Curcuma wenyujin Y. H. Chen et C. Ling led to the isolation of three new compounds curcuminol F (1) curcuminol G (2) and wenyujinoside (3) and a known compound aurantiamide (4). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis.

Topics: Benzoates; Curcuma; Glucosides; Molecular Structure; Plant Extracts; Plant Roots; Sesquiterpenes

The rhizomes of Curcuma phaeocaulis, Curcuma kwangsiensis, Curcuma wenyujin and Curcuma longa are used as Ezhu or Jianghuang in traditional Chinese medicine for a long time. Due to their similar morphological characters, it is difficult to distinguish their origins of raw materials used in clinic. In this study, a simple, rapid and reliable twice development TLC method was developed for qualitative and quantitative analysis of the four species of Curcuma rhizomes. The chromatography was performed on silica gel 60F(254) plate with chloroform-methanol-formic acid (80:4:0.8, v/v/v) and petroleum ether-ethyl acetate (90:10, v/v) as mobile phase for twice development. The TLC markers were colorized with 1% vanillin-H(2)SO(4) solution. The four species of Curcuma were easily discriminated based on their characteristic TLC profiles, and simultaneous quantification of eight compounds, including bisdemethoxycurcumin, demethoxycurcumin, curcumine, curcumenol, curcumol, curdione, furanodienone and curzerene, in Curcuma were also performed densitometrically at lambda(scan)=518nm and lambda(reference)=800 nm. The investigated compounds had good linearity (r(2)>0.9905) within test ranges. Therefore, the developed TLC method can be used for quality control of Curcuma rhizomes.

Topics: Acetates; Alkanes; Benzaldehydes; Chloroform; Chromatography, Thin Layer; Curcuma; Curcumin; Diarylheptanoids; Formates; Gels; Methanol; Plant Roots; Reference Standards; Reproducibility of Results; Sesquiterpenes; Sesquiterpenes, Germacrane; Silicon Dioxide; Solutions; Species Specificity; Sulfuric Acids; Time Factors

To establish a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with tandem mass spectrometry quantitative detection method for the determination of curcumol, the main ingredient of zedoary turmeric oil fat emulsion, and investigate its pharmacokinetics in Beagle dogs, nine healthy Beagle dogs were divided into three groups, and blood samples were collected at scheduled time points after intravenous injection of 7.5, 10 and 12.5 mg x kg(-1) zedoary turmeric oil fat emulsion. The concentrations of curcumol were determined and pharmacokinetics was calculated. A good linearity was obtained from 0.25 to 100 ng x mL(-1) in plasma. The relative recoveries were from 91.33% to 103.17%, and the absolute recoveries were from 31.61% to 37.20%. The intra-day and inter-day variances (RSD) were < 15%. The main pharmacokinetic parameters of curcumol after intravenous injection of 7.5, 10 and 12.5 mg x kg(-1) zedoary turmeric oil fat emulsion were as follows, T1/2 : (2.0 +/- 0.4), (1.7 +/- 0.2) and (2.3 +/- 0.8) h, AUC(0-infinity): (15.1 +/- 2.7), (18.3 +/- 2.0) and (29.5 +/- 4.0) ng x mL(-1) x h; MRT: (0.9 +/- 0.1), (0.8 +/- 0.2) and (0.8 +/- 0.1) h, CL: (21.9 +/- 4.0), (24.9 +/- 6.0) and (18.4 +/- 1.2) L x h(-1) x kg; Vd : (65.4 +/- 26.5), (62.0 +/- 13.4) and (61.2 +/- 19.8) L x kg(-1), respectively. The developed method was rapid, highly sensitive and specific and could be used in curcumol pharmacokinetic studies in vivo. A three-compartment model was best fit to the plasma concentration--time curves obtained in Beagle dogs and the plasma AUC was increased proportionally with doses.

Topics: Animals; Area Under Curve; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Curcuma; Dogs; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Male; Plant Extracts; Plant Oils; Plants, Medicinal; Random Allocation; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sesquiterpenes; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

To investigate the chemical constituents of the rhizome of Curcuma phaeocaulis Val.. The constituents were isolated by column chromatography and their structures elucidated by chemical properties and spectroscopic analysis.. Five compunds have been isolated and identified as isocurcumenol, curcumenol, alpha-spinasterol, curcumin, and beta-sitosterin-3-O-glucoside.. alpha-Spinasterol and alpha-stediol were isolated from Curcuma phaeocaulis Val. for the first time.

Topics: Curcuma; Curcumin; Molecular Structure; Plants, Medicinal; Rhizome; Sesquiterpenes; Stigmasterol

Curcumol, germacrone and curdione are the main active ingredients in a common traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) of Rhizoma Curcuma, and commonly used as the TCM quality control markers. In the present work, microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) followed by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was developed for the quantitative analysis of curcumol, curdione and germacrone in Rhizoma Curcuma. The MAE and HS-SPME parameters were studied, and the method was validated. The optimal MAE conditions obtained were: microwave power of 700 W and irradiation time of 4 min, and HS-SPME optimal conditions were: fiber coating of 100 microm PDMS, extraction temperature of 80 degrees C, extraction time of 20 min, stirring rate of 1,100 rpm, and salt concentration of 30% NaCl. The proposed method provided good precision (RSD less than 12%) and recoveries between 86% and 93%. The proposed method was applied to the determination of the three marker compounds in three species of Curcuma rhizomes (Curcuma wenyujin, Curcuma phaeocaulis, and Curcuma kwangsiensis). To demonstrate the proposed method reliability, a conventional technique of steam distillation was also used for the analysis of curcumol, germacrone and curdione in the TCMs. The results show that MAE-HS-SPME is a simple, rapid, solvent-free and reliable method for the determination of curdione, curcumol and germacrone in TCM, and also a potential and powerful tool for quality assessment of Rhizoma Curcuma.

Topics: Curcuma; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Microwaves; Reproducibility of Results; Sesquiterpenes; Sesquiterpenes, Germacrane

To establish a method to determine the content of Curcumol in Rhizoma Curcumae.. The samples were determined by GC on a HP-5 column (0.32 mm x 30 m, 0.25 micron), Inlet temperature 200 degrees C, FID 250 degrees C, flow 1.0 mL x min(-1), splitless. Temperature programming started at 60 degrees C, holding for 4 min, then increased to 210 degrees C at a rate of 3 degrees C x min(-1).. The calibration curve of curcumol is linear over the range of 40.0-2,000 microg x mL(-1), r = 0.9997. The high and low additive recovery were 95.01% (RSD 2.52%), 96.46% (RSD 2.86%).. This method was accurate and reliable with a good reproducibility, and the procedure of samples pretreatment is simple.

Topics: Chromatography, Gas; Curcuma; Plants, Medicinal; Reproducibility of Results; Rhizome; Sesquiterpenes

In this paper, GC-MS and pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) was developed for identification and quantitative determination/estimation 11 sesquiterpenes including germacrene D, curzerene, gamma-elemene, furanodienone, curcumol, isocurcumenol, furanodiene, germacrone, curdione, curcumenol and neocurdione in Ezhu which are derived from three species of Curcuma, i.e., Curcuma phaeocaulis, Curcuma wenyujin and Curcuma kwangsiensis by using an analogue as standard. The results showed the methodology could quantitatively compare the quality of three species of Curcuma. The contents of investigated sesquiterpenes in three species of Curcuma were high variant. Hierarchical clustering analysis based on characteristics of 11 identified peaks in GC profiles showed that 18 samples were divided into two main clusters, C. phaeocaulis and C. wenyujin, respectively. C. kwangsiensis showed the characters closed to C. phaeocaulis or C. wenyujin based on its location. Five components such as furanodienone, germacrone, curdione, curcumenol and neocurdione were optimized as markers for quality control of Ezhu.

Topics: Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; Chromatography; Chromatography, Ion Exchange; Chromatography, Liquid; Curcuma; Drug Industry; Furans; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Models, Chemical; Phylogeny; Quality Control; Sesquiterpenes; Sesquiterpenes, Germacrane

To study the fingerprint of Ezhu by GC-MS.. GC-MS analysis was performed for 18 samples of three species of Curcuma used as Ezhu. TIC profiles were evaluated by "Computer Aided Similarity Evaluation System" (MATLAB5.3 based, Ver. 1.240, developed by Research Center for Modernization of Chinese Medicine, Central South University). The characteristic peaks in chromatograms were identified by comparing mass data with literatures. Hierarchical clustering analysis was performed by SPSS based on the relative peak area (RPA) of identified peak to germacrone in 18 samples.. Resemblance values of 18 samples of Ezhu were pretty low. The mutual mode fingerprint plots of Ezhu were failed to develop. However, 18 samples were divided into two main clusters based on hierarchical clustering analysis, Curcuma wenyujin cluster and Curcuma phaeocaulis cluster, but the samples of Curcuma kwangsiensis were dispersive. Therefore, based on hierarchical clustering analysis, two mutual mode fingerprint plots of Curcuma wenyujin and Curcuma phaeocaulis were developed. But that of Curcuma kwangsiensis was failed because of low resemblance among samples.. The mutual mode fingerprint is the basis for quality control of Chinese materia medica from multi-origins. Development of GC-MS fingerprint of Ezhu was failed, which indicates that the chemical components in different species of herbs used as one Chinese materia medica may be significantly different. The relationship of chemical components and pharmacological activities should be further studied so as to elucidate the rationality of Chinese materia medica from multi-origins.

Topics: Cluster Analysis; Curcuma; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Phylogeny; Plant Roots; Plants, Medicinal; Quality Control; Reproducibility of Results; Sesquiterpenes; Sesquiterpenes, Germacrane

To study the absorption of zedoary oil in intestine of rat.. In situ single pass perfusion model was used and the concentrations of three components in perfusate were determined by HPLC in combination with diode array detection.. The P(app) s of curcumol, curdione and germacrone were all low and had no significant difference (P > 0.05) at zedoary oil concentration of 0.4, 0.8 and 1.2 mg x mL(-1) in transmucosal fluid or in four different regions of intestine of rat [duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon]. The absorption rates of germacrone and curdione were faster than curcumol's in this study.. The zedoary oil concentration in transmucosal fluid had no significant effect on the P(app) s within the scope of 0.4-1.2 mg x mL(-1). The absorption of curcumol, curdione and germacrone showed the passive diffusion process, and didn't contain a special absorption window.

Topics: Animals; Biological Transport; Colon; Curcuma; Duodenum; Ileum; In Vitro Techniques; Intestinal Absorption; Jejunum; Male; Perfusion; Plant Oils; Plants, Medicinal; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Sesquiterpenes; Sesquiterpenes, Germacrane

To study the effective ingredients of Curcuma aromatica.. Solvent extraction was used. The constituents were isolated with resin D-101 silica gel column and thin-layer chromatography, and the structures were elucidated by physico-chemical properties and spectral analysis.. Curdione, neocurdione, curcumol, tetramethylpyrazine and (R)-(+)-1,2-hexadecanediol were isolated from C. aromatica.. Neocurdione and (R)-(+)-1,2-hexadecanediol were isolated from C. aromatica for the first time, and was isolated from Curcuma and reported for the first time.

Topics: Curcuma; Fatty Alcohols; Plants, Medicinal; Rhizome; Sesquiterpenes