• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.18 no.6
• /
• pp.1500-1504
• /
• 2009

Effects of methanol extract from turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) (CME) on underlying mechanisms of lipolysis were investigated in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Compared to the control, lipid accumulation with 72 hr treatment of CME at the concentration $20\;{\mu}g/mL$ was significantly decreased by 19.9% as quantified by Oil red O dye. Intracellular triglyceride (TG) content was also lowered by 19.3%. To determine the mechanism for TG content reduction, glycerol release level was measured. Incubation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes with 15 and $20\;{\mu}g/mL$ of CME significantly elevated the level of free glycerol released into the cultured medium by 20.4 and 28.6%, respectively. In subsequent measurements using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), mRNA levels of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) were significantly increased by 21.2 and 24.9%, respectively, at the concentration $20\;{\mu}g/mL$. Results indicated that CME stimulated lipolysis through induction of HSL and ATGL mRNA expressions, resulting in increased glycerol release.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.30 no.10
• /
• pp.2287-2293
• /
• 2009

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) fingerprint analysis, Principle Components Analysis (PCA), and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) were introduced for quality assessment of Curcuma longa L. (C. longa). The GC-MS fingerprint method was developed and validated by analyzing 33 batches of samples of C. longa from different geographic locations. 18 chromatographic peaks were selected as characteristic peaks and their relative peak areas (RPA) were calculated for quantitative expression. Two principal components (PCs) were extracted by PCA. C. longa collected from Guizhou and Fujian were separated from other samples by PC1, capturing 71.83% of variance. While, PC2 contributed for their further separation, capturing 11.13% of variance. HCA confirmed the result of PCA analysis. Therefore, GC-MS fingerprint study with chemometric techniques provides a very flexible and reliable method for quality assessment of C. longa.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.28 no.8
• /
• pp.1270-1281
• /
• 2018

Periodontal disease is triggered by the host immune response to pathogens in the microbial biofilm. Worsening of periodontal disease destroys the tooth-supporting tissues and alveolar bone. As oral inflammation can induce systemic diseases in humans, it is important to prevent periodontal disease. In this study, we demonstrated that Curcuma xanthorrhiza supercritical extract (CXS) and its active compound, xanthorrhizol (XAN), exhibit anti-inflammatory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated human gingival fibroblast-1 cells and anti-osteoclastic effects on receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL)-treated RAW264.7 cells. LPS-upregulated inflammatory factors, such as nuclear factor kappa B p65 and $interleukin-1{\beta}$, were prominently reduced by CXS and XAN. In addition, RANKL-induced osteoclastic factors, such as nuclear factor of activated T-cells c1, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, and cathepsin K, were decreased in the presence of CXS and XAN. CXS and XAN inhibited the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/activator protein-1 (AP-1) signaling pathway. Collectively, these results provide evidence that CXS and XAN suppress LPS-induced inflammation and RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis by suppressing the MAPK/AP-1 pathway.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.107-110
• /
• 2010

Curcuma caesia Roxb. (Zingiberaceae) is commonly known as 'Black turmeric'. In India it grows in West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Bihar, North-East and Uttar Pradesh and is widely used by ethnic communities for various ailments. Rhizomes of the plant are used for sprains and bruises and are also employed in cosmetics. In West Bengal it is an important place in traditional system of medicine and is also used as a substitute for turmeric in fresh stage. Present communication deals with the detailed pharmacognostical evaluation of the rhizome sample. Inner part of the rhizome is bluish-black in colour and emits a characteristic sweet smell, due to the presence of essential oil. On steam distillation the rhizome yields an essential oil rich in camphor. A detailed HPTLC studies has been carried out for quantitative evaluation of active marker component. HPTLC, physico-chemical, morphological and histological parameters presented in this paper may be proposed as parameters to establish the authenticity of C. caesia rhizome and may possibly help to differentiate the drug from its other allied species.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.253-256
• /
• 2013

Six flavonoid compounds were isolated from the underground parts of Curcuma longa (Zingiberaceae) through repeated column chromatography. Their chemical structures were elucidated as kaempferol-3-O-${\alpha}$-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1${\rightarrow}$2)-O-${\alpha}$-L-rhamnopyranoside (1), quercetin-3-O-${\alpha}$-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1${\rightarrow}$2)-O-${\alpha}$-L-rhamnopyranoside (2), quercetin-3-O-${\beta}$-Dglucopyranoside-7-O-${\alpha}$-L-rhamnopyranoside (3), kaempferol-3-O-${\alpha}$-L-rhamnopyranoside (4), quercetin-3-O-${\alpha}$-L-rhamnopyranoside (5), and quercetin (6), respectively, by spectroscopic analysis. These compounds were isolated for the first time from this plant.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.559-563
• /
• 2006

The growth responses of six bacterial strains exposed to materials extracted from turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizomes were examined using impregnated paper disk agar diffusion. Methanol extracts of turmeric rhizomes exhibited strong inhibitory activity against Clostridium perfringens and weak inhibitory activity toward Escherichia coli at 5 mg/disk. However, in tests conducted with Bifidobacterium adolescentis, B. bifidum, B. longum, and Lactobacillus casei, the methanol extract showed no inhibitory response. The biologically active constituent isolated from the turmeric rhizomes extracts was characterized as ar-turmerone using various spectroscopic analyses including EI-MS and NMR. The responses varied according to the dosage, chemicals, and bacterial strain tested. At 2 and 1 mg/disk, ar-turmerone strongly inhibited the growth of C. perfringens and moderately inhibited the growth of E. coli without any adverse effects on the growth of four lactic acid-bacteria. Of the commercially available compounds originating from turmeric rhizomes, curcumin exhibited strong and moderate growth inhibition against C. perfringens at 2 and 1 mg/disk, respectively, and weak growth inhibition against E. coli at 1 mg/disk. However, little or no activity was observed for borneol, 1,8-cineole, and sabinene against all six bacteria strains tested. The observed inhibitory activity of the turmeric rhizome-derived curcumin and ar-turmerone against C. perfringens and E. coli demonstrate one of the important pharmacological activities of turmeric rhizomes.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2021

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection often complicates burn wounds. Mupirocin is the antibiotic of choice for superficial MRSA infection, and its resistance is on the rise due to its frequent and widespread use. This study aimed to develop and evaluate Curcuma xanthorriza extract (CXE)-containing gel as a topical agent against MRSA-infected second-degree burn wound in rats. CXE was obtained using maceration with 96% ethanol. Xanthorrhizol level, antibacterial, and antioxidant activity were evaluated using a standardized method. In vivo, the wound's healing and bacterial load were evaluated every three days, whereas the histopathology of the wound was examined on day 12 of treatment. One-Way ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis test were used to analyze the data. In this study, 27.0% and 7.10% of the obtained CXE were xanthorrhizol and curcumin, respectively. Additionally, an IC50 of 64.27 ppm was shown in antioxidant activity measurement, and MIC against MRSA was 5 mg/ml. Treatment with CXE-containing gels showed a significant reduction in bacterial load and proliferation of connective tissue in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, CXE-containing gel showed a greater reduction of bacterial load and more advanced wound healing phase than mupirocin.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.79-87
• /
• 2022

In this study, extracts of Boswellia serrata gum resin, Curcuma longa rhizome, and Terminalia chebula fruit were combined in different ratios, and their anti-osteoarthritis effects were compared to determine which combination had the best synergistic effect. B. serrata, C. longa, and T. chebula extracts in a 2:1:2 ratio exhibited higher antioxidative activity in scavenging DPPH radicals than did the individual extracts alone or the other extract combinations. Additionally, the 2:1:2 combination significantly improved the levels of enzymatic antioxidants and antioxidant-related proteins. Moreover, this same combination ratio decreased the protein levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 3 and MMP13 in interleukin-1β-stimulated human articular chondrocytes (HCHs) and increased those of aggrecan and collagen type II alpha 1 chain (COL2A1). Analysis of the underlying mechanisms revealed that the 2:1:2 combination significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65, extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Therefore, the 2:1:2 combination of these three plant extracts has the best potential for use as an effective dietary supplement for improving joint health compared with the individual extracts and their other combination ratios.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.50 no.2
• /
• pp.193-201
• /
• 2022

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) are major causes of hospital- and community-acquired infections. The treatment of biofilm-related infections caused by these bacteria is a global healthcare challenge. Therefore, the development of alternative therapeutics is required. An essential oil extracted from Curcuma zedoaria (CZ) Rosc, also known as white turmeric, has been reported to possess various antimicrobial activities. In the present study, we evaluated the antibiofilm activities of an ethanolic extract of the CZ rhizome against MRSA and MSSA. The results showed that the CZ extract with the highest sub-minimum inhibitory concentration (sub-MIC), 1/2 MIC (0.312 mg/ml), significantly inhibited biofilm production by up to 80-90% in both tested strains. Subsequently, we evaluated the ability of the CZ extract to prevent cell-surface attachment to a 96-well plate and extracellular DNA (eDNA) release from the biofilm. The CZ extract demonstrated an inhibitory effect on bacterial attachment and eDNA release from the biofilm biomass. The CZ extract may inhibit biofilm formation by preventing eDNA release and cell-surface attachment. Therefore, this CZ extract is a potential candidate for the development of alternative treatments for biofilm-associated MRSA and MSSA infections.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.66
• /
• pp.106-113
• /
• 2023

Plant extracts have been studied due to their potential as photoprotective agents against UV and blue light exposure. Previous studies have revealed that several plant extracts have photoprotection capacities and synergistic effects with synthetic products. However, such results for pu'er tea and Curcuma longa L. have not been reported yet for a cosmetic formulation. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate photoprotection capacities of pu'er tea and C. longa L. extracts for a sunscreen compound. The pu'er tea extract improved sun protection factor value of 2-ethyl-hexyl methoxycinnamate (a synthetic sunscreen compound) by 46% and showed a high antioxidant capability that could help skin recover from photo-induced damage. C. longa L. extract also showed a potential to protect skin from blue light-induced damage because it not only had a maximum absorption peak at the blue light range, but also protected human fibroblasts from blue light-induced damage. The addition of both extracts shifted the critical wavelength of 2-ethyl-hexyl methoxycinnamate from 350 nm to 386 nm, giving it a broad-spectrum feature. Thus, pu'er tea and C. longa L. extracts may enhance the photoprotection ability of synthetic sunscreen products.