Chemical constituents of the rhizomes of Curcuma spp. (Wahn Mahamek) and DNA fingerprints

Wahn Mahamek's rhizome (rhizome of Curcuma aeruginosa Roxb.) is used as carminative, analgesic and against uterus inflammation [1]. Two types of Wahn Mahamek specimen were investigated; one is Curcuma aeruginosa Roxb., the other is still being identified. However, both of them are easily distinguished when fresh, but when they were dried and sold in herbal drug stores they were sliced, dried or powdered and therefore hard to identify. In this study 3 techniques were used to differentiate the two Wahn Mahameks. Therefore their identity and standards of Wahn Mahamek can be established. Both species were grown and collected at 10 months age. DNA fingerprint, chemical constituents of their volatile oils by using gas chromatography, linear retention index and some authentic standards to identify the constituents were performed. Besides that methanol extracts were compared by thin layer chromatography. The PCR amplification was used for identification the two plants DNA by using OPA02, OPA03, OPA13, OPA20, OPE4 and OPE7 random-decamer primers. The polymorphic bands between the two specimen studied were found which can be used for identification. The contents of camphor, curzerenone and epicurzerenone of C. aeruginosa were 16.85, 16.81 and 3.5% whereas the C. sp. contained 6.04, 0 and 62.84% respectively. The thin layer chromatogram revealed that C. spp. contains curcumine, whereas none was detected in C. aeruginosa.

References: [1] Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University (2000) Herb...Local Plants (4). Prachachon Ltd. Bangkok 10500