curcumin and gamma-sitosterol

In this work, the effect of β-sitosterol (Sito) on vesicle characteristics, physicochemical stability as well as the in vitro release and bioavailability of curcumin-loaded liposomes (Cur-LP) was studied. When 20-33 mol% of Sito was incorporated, encapsulation efficiency of curcumin was improved due to the high amount of liquid-ordered domains in membranes. At 50 mol% Sito a lower encapsulation efficiency was observed possibly due to membrane defects. The physical, thermal and photo stability of curcumin in liposomes were markedly improved with increasing the amount of Sito. First-order kinetics fitted best the curcumin release dynamics of Sito containing liposomes, clearly showing that sustained release improved with increasing amounts of Sito in liposomes. Simulated digestion studies suggested that Sito concentration of about 20-33 mol% improved the bioavailability of curcumin in liposomes. These study shows that Sito is an applicable and potential route in forming healthier cholesterol-free curcumin-loaded liposomes for functional supplements.

Topics: Biological Availability; Curcumin; Drug Liberation; Drug Stability; Liposomes; Membrane Fluidity; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Sitosterols; Temperature

Phytochemical analysis of the rhizome extract of Curcuma ecalcarata, a hitherto uninvestigated south Western Ghats endemic species, resulted in the isolation and identification of the diaryl heptanoid trans, trans-1,7-diphenyl-5-hydroxy-4,6-heptadiene-3-one (1), steroid β-sitosterol (2), flavanone pinocembrin (4) and monoterpenoids piperitenone (3) and 8-hydroxy piperitone (5). HPTLC estimation of pinocembrin in the rhizome revealed the plant as a rich source of pinocembrin (0.37% dry wt.). The rhizome essential oil was isolated by hydrodistillation and analysed by GC-FID, GC-MS and (13)C NMR. Among the 30 constituents identified in the oil, monoterpenoids predominated (94.2%) followed by sesquiterpenoids (5.8%). The major compound consisting of 65.2% of the oil was isolated and identified as piperitenone (3). The study highlights the plant as a rich source of the flavanone pinocembrin and the volatile aroma compound piperitenone.

Topics: Curcuma; Cyclohexane Monoterpenes; Flavanones; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Molecular Structure; Monoterpenes; Oils, Volatile; Plant Extracts; Plant Oils; Rhizome; Sitosterols; Volatile Organic Compounds

To identify the endophyte strain E8 with high activity from Curcuma wenyujin and study its secondary metabolites.. The strain E8 was identified by morphological observation and ITS sequence analysis. Manifold chromatographic methods were used to separate and purify the chemical constituents of fermentation broth from strain E8, and their structures were identified by physiochemical properties and spectral data.. The strain E8 belongs to P. oxalicum. Four compounds were isolated from the fermentation broth of this strain and elucidated as chrysophanol, emodin, secalonic acid A and beta-sitosterol.. The endophyte P. oxalicum was isolated from medicinal plant Curcuma wenyujin for the first time. Four compounds were first isolated from endophytic fungus in C. wenyujin. Thus, microbial fermentation is a new access for these compounds production.

Topics: Anthraquinones; Curcuma; Emodin; Fermentation; Penicillium; Sitosterols; Xanthones

To investigate the chemical constituents from aerial part of Curcuma wenyujin.. Compounds were isolated by repeated column chromatography on silica gel. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis and comparison with literature data.. Six compounds were isolated and identified as codonolactone (1), voleneol (2), octacosanoic acid (3), beta-sitosterol (4), mangdesisterol (5), and daucosterol (6).. Compounds 1, 2, and 5 were isolated from the plant for the first time.

Topics: Curcuma; Fatty Acids; Phytosterols; Plant Components, Aerial; Plants, Medicinal; Sesquiterpenes; Sitosterols