Curcuma ecalcarata – new natural source of pinocembrin and piperitenone

Abstract

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 ¹³C 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.

Keywords::

• Curcuma ecalcarata
• pinocembrin
• HPTLC
• essential oil
• piperitenone
• GC–MS

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Dr Mathew Dan, JNTBGRI, for identification of the plant material.

Additional information

Funding

D.B.A.S. is grateful to CSIR, New Delhi for Junior and Senior Research Fellowships.