Morphological characters, pharmacognostical parameters, and preliminary phytochemical screening of Curcuma sahuynhensis Škorni?k. & N.S.Lý in Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam

Abstract

Abstract. Chen TV, Lam DNX, Thong CLT, Nguyen DD, Nhi NTT, Triet NT. 2022. Morphological characters, pharmacognostical parameters, and preliminary phytochemical screening of Curcuma sahuynhensis Škorni?k. & N.S.Lý in Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam. Biodiversitas 23: 3907-3920. Curcuma sahuynhensis (Vegetable Turmeric or Rau Nghe) has been used as a flavor and a spice in Vietnamese cuisines. Information on micromorphological characters, pharmacognostic parameters, and phytochemical screening of C. sahuynhensis has not been reported in the literature. Therefore, the accurate verification of plants requires further research to determine their quality and safety in order to make optimal use of them as raw materials for medicines and food. In this work, macro-and micromorphological features, pharmacognostic parameters, and phytochemical screening were performed according to the Vietnamese Pharmacopoeia V guidelines and other published data. Macromorphologically, it can grow up to 75 ± 5 cm tall and up to 10 per pseudostem. The inflorescence consists of 10–24 bracts. Rhizome branched, and remote tubers were present. The flower was yellow with a warm yellow midrib band, and an incision up to 0.6 cm long on the apex labellum. Anthers are L-shaped, stalked with no knobs below the thecae. Micromorphologically, there are anatomical similarities between the species in the genus Curcuma, particularly in terms of leaves, roots, and rhizomes. Under the lower epidermis of the leaf midrib are small vascular bundles (8–10 bundles). The stomatal index (SI) was 8.97 in abaxial and 1.06 in adaxial of the leaf. Prismatic calcium oxalate crystals were found in the leaf but they were absent in the root. Starch grains were also found in leaf powder (11–12.5 µm) and rhizome powder (15–20 µm). Additionally, the presence of oleoresin (in leaves and rhizomes) and the absence of crystals in the cortex region of the rhizome was found to be significant features in identifying C. sahuynhensis. Phytochemical screening found that its rhizome and inflorescence contain essential oil, amino acids, flavonoids, tannins, coumarins, triterpenoids, polyuronides, and reducing compounds. Pharmacognostically, rhizome powders' moisture content, total ash value, and acid-insoluble ash value were 11.79 ± 0.20%, 7.32 ± 0.60%, and 0.24 ± 0.08%, respectively.

GC-MS analysis and cytotoxic activity of the n-hexane fraction from Curcuma sahuynhensis Škornick. & N.S.Lý leaves collected in Vietnam

“…In our previous report, the extract of aerial parts of C. sahuynhensis contained phytochemicals such as polyphenols and flavonoids (12), which were reported to have potent anti-cancer activity through the regulation of pathways such as differential signaling of cancer cell growth and inhibition as well as the proliferation of oncogenes and tumorigenesis, regulation of enzyme activity, induction of apoptosis, antioxidants, metabolic regulation, immune system stimulation, and DNA repair (46,47). In addition, polyphenols also have a significant protective role in the body in terms of inflammation, carcinogenesis, thrombosis, atherosclerosis, and antioxidant properties (47).…”

“…Leaves of Curcuma sahuynhensis were collected in August, 2022 in Sa Huynh, Duc Pho ward, Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam. This research project was a continuation of a previous study (12). The morphological characteristics of the research sample of C. sahuynhensis are shown in Fig.…”

“…The fruit is simple capsule style, globose, three-celled, with brown bulges on older fruit, each fruit has about 18 seeds. The seed is irregular oblong ovoid, light brown, and glossy (12). Moreover, C. sahuynhensis is used as a spice and vegetable in daily meals (12).…”

“…The seed is irregular oblong ovoid, light brown, and glossy (12). Moreover, C. sahuynhensis is used as a spice and vegetable in daily meals (12).…”

Micromorphology, physicochemical parameters, and phytochemical screening of Chloranthus flavus D.T. Liu & G. Chen (syn. C. nervosus Collett & Hemsl.) from Vietnam

“…Precise species identification is crucial to search and focus on their various bioactive potentials. The initial and most common approach to taxonomy has historically been describing macro-morphological features because of its ease and convenience (Van Chen et al 2022). The macromorphology, or external morphology, is diversed or varied between species in a genus because of various factors, including macromorphological similarity, distinct genetic and morphological variation, and polyploidization and hybridization.…”