HPLC estimation of curcumin in different plants of zingiberaceae family

The comparative analysis of Curcuma zanthorrhiza and Curcuma zedoaria extracts reveals distinct medicinal potentials based on their bioactive compound profiles and curcumin concentrations. Curcuma zedoaria yielded a slightly higher extraction percentage (6.3%) compared to Curcuma zanthorrhiza (5.7%), with both producing dark brown extracts. Qualitative tests indicated that Curcuma zanthorrhiza contains carbohydrates, glycosides, saponins, phenols, flavonoids, and diterpenes, whereas Curcuma zedoaria has alkaloids and proteins, suggesting differing therapeutic properties. Quantitative analysis showed that Curcuma zanthorrhiza has higher total phenol (0.77 mg/100 mg) and flavonoid (0.62 mg/100 mg) contents than Curcuma zedoaria (0.65 mg/100 mg phenols and 0.54 mg/100 mg flavonoids), indicating greater antioxidant potential.
Overall, while both species contain valuable medicinal compounds, Curcuma zanthorrhiza is likely more effective for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory purposes. In contrast, Curcuma zedoaria may provide unique therapeutic benefits due to its alkaloid and protein content. Thus, both species have significant applications in herbal medicine, each serving different medicinal roles based on their distinct bioactive profiles.