Chemical profiles and biological activities of acetone extracts of Curcuma xanthella

Summary Introduction: Curcuma xanthella Škorničk. is a rare species. Recently, it has been described as a new species from Vietnam. Objective: In this study, the chemical composition of the acetone extract as well as the antibacterial and antioxidant effects of acetone extract and its fractions such as n-hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate of C. xanthella were investigated for the first time. Methods: The chemical components obtained from the acetone extract of C. xanthella were performed by using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry assays. Disc diffusion assay was used to assess the antibacterial effects of studied samples. Free radical scavenging ability of the extracts was determined by DPPH free radical scavenging (DPPH RSA) assay. Results: Sixty chemical compounds were reported from C. xanthella, of which 1,8-cineole (11.3%), n-hexadecanoic acid (11.13%), stigmasterol (8.2%), γ-sitosterol (6.78%) and neophytadiene (6.71%) were the major compounds. The acetone extract and its fractions such as n-hexane and ethyl acetate were found to be effective against eight oral bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Shigella flexneri, Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus. The acetone extract and its fractions such as n-hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate of C. xanthella showed DPPH radical scavenging activity with IC50 value of 6.60, 2.38, 8.45 and 3.42 mg/ml, respectively. Conclusion: Sixty chemical constituents were identified in the acetone extract of C. xanthella. The acetone extract and its fractions showed antibacterial effect and DPPH radical scavenging activity.