Characterization of the components present in the active fractions of health gingers ( Curcuma xanthorrhiza and Zingiber zerumbet) by HPLC–DAD–ESIMS

Abstract

Curcuma xanthorrhiza and Zingiber zerumbet are two of the most commonly used ingredients in Indo-Malaysian traditional medicines, health supplements and tonics. Recently, a number of products derived from the aqueous extracts of these species have appeared in the market in the form of spray-dried powder packed in sachet or bottle. On-line high performance liquid chromatography, coupled with diode array detection and electrospray ion trap tandem mass spectroscopy (HPLC–DAD–ESI–MS n), was used to analyze the components in the antioxidant-active fractions from the rhizomes of these species. Three components were identified from C. xanthorrhiza, including bisdemethoxycurcumin ( 1), demethoxycurcumin ( 2) and curcumin ( 3). The active fraction from Z. zerumbet consisted of five components, including kaempferol 3- O-rhamnoside ( 4), compound 5 [kaempferol 3- O-(2″- O-acetyl)rhamnoside ( 5a) or kaempferol 3- O-(3″- O-acetyl)rhamnoside ( 5b)], kaempferol 3- O-(4″- O-acetyl)rhamnoside ( 6), kaempferol 3- O-(3″,4″- O-diacetyl)rhamnoside ( 7) and kaempferol 3- O-(2″,4″- O-diacetyl)rhamnoside ( 8). To confirm their identities, the components from Z. zerumbet were isolated conventionally and were analyzed by spectroscopic techniques as well as by comparison with literature data.