Isolation and Evaluation of Bioactive Non Starch Polysaccharides from Eight Starchy Curcuma Species

G.   R.   Angel; B.      Vimala; Bala      Nambisan

Abstract

The rhizomes of Curcuma species possess pharmacological properties and produce a large number of phytochemicals, several of which have not been investigated. In the present study, non starch polysaccharides from eight Curcuma species viz. C. aeruginosa, C. amada, C. aromatica, C. brog, C. caesia, C. malabarica, C. rakthakanta and C. sylvatica were isolated and their nature and bioactivity were studied and compared with that of C. zedoaria. Non starch polysaccharides constituted about 1% of the dry weight of all the rhizomes. Arabinose, galactose, glucose, rhamnose and glucuronic acid were the major monosaccharide units. The polysaccharides exhibited both antioxidant and antiinflammatory activity. IC₅₀(DPPH) values ranged from 4.7 - 12.5 mg, highest DPPH scavenging activity was produced by rhizome polysaccharides from C. aeruginosa, which was comparable with that of C. zedoaria (3.4 mg). All the polysaccharides exhibited high anti-inflammatory activity, some were superior to the standard drug, voveran. Bioactive polysaccharides having significant antioxidant and anti inflammatory properties can be exploited for pharmaceutical applications.

Keywords: Anti-inflammatory activity, antioxidant activity, composition; Curcuma species, non starch polysaccharides, rhizomes.