Utilization of UPLC-PDA and GC-MS/MS coupled with metabolomics analysis to identify bioactive metabolites in medicinal turmeric at different ages for the quality assurance

Patchaya Pantharos; Panisara Sukcharoen; Rattana Phadungrakwittaya; Pravit Akarasereenont; Suksalin Booranasubkajorn; Natchagorn Lumlerdkij

doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154157

Utilization of UPLC-PDA and GC-MS/MS coupled with metabolomics analysis to identify bioactive metabolites in medicinal turmeric at different ages for the quality assurance

Phytomedicine. 2022 Jul 20:102:154157. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154157. Epub 2022 May 5.

Authors

Patchaya Pantharos¹, Panisara Sukcharoen¹, Rattana Phadungrakwittaya², Pravit Akarasereenont³, Suksalin Booranasubkajorn¹, Natchagorn Lumlerdkij⁴

Affiliations

¹ Center of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand.
² Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand.
³ Center of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand; Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand; Siriraj Metabolomics and Phenomics Center, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand.
⁴ Center of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand. Electronic address: natchagorn.lum@mahidol.ac.th.

PMID: 35550222
DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154157

Abstract

Background: Available monographs often suggest measurement of curcumin or curcuminoids for quality control of turmeric-based medicines/products. However, one compound is not enough to indicate the quality of traditional herbal medicines due to the holistic approach. Furthermore, to ensure high quality of such products, good harvesting practice plays an important role in the quality control of turmeric raw materials.

Purpose: This study aimed to indicate quality markers of turmeric and to suggest optimum harvesting times for turmeric used for medicinal purposes by integration of Thai traditional medicine knowledge.

Methods: Turmeric rhizomes at 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, and 11 months old were analyzed. UPLC-PDA was used for quantitation of curcumin. GC-MS/MS was used to obtain chemical profiles of turmeric volatile oil. PCA, Volcano plot, and HCA were performed to identify similarities or differences of the data.

Results: Turmeric aged between 6 and 10 months old contained > 5%w/w of curcumin, which complied with Thai Herbal Pharmacopoeia 2021. GC-MS/MS analysis suggested suitable chemical markers, namely Ar-turmerone, turmerone, curlone, and zingiberene, because they exhibited pharmacological activities related to the traditional uses of turmeric. Eucalyptol, santalene, β-caryophyllene, cis-β-farnesene, α-caryophyllene, curcumene, β-bisabolene, β-sesquiphellandrene, and cis-sesquisabinene hydrate were also tentatively identified. Later, the multivariate analysis revealed that turmeric aged between 6 and 10 months old showed similar metabolite profiles.

Conclusion: Based on curcumin content and chemical profiles, turmeric aged between 6 and 10 months old are appropriate for uses in Thai traditional medicine. Our study suggests additional information in the quality control of turmeric to assure its efficacy, especially for uses in traditional medicines.

Keywords: Chemical Profiles; Curcumin content; Harvesting time; Traditional Medicine; Turmeric rhizome.

MeSH terms

Curcuma* / chemistry
Curcumin* / pharmacology
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Metabolomics
Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Substances

Curcumin