Comparative Phytochemical Profiles and Antioxidant and Tyrosinase-Inhibitory Activities of Wild and In Vitro-Derived Curcuma lampangensis Saensouk, Maknoi & Rakarcha
TL;DR
It is demonstrated that in vitro-derived biomass retains appreciable phytochemical and biological properties, supporting its use as a renewable, conservation-compatible material for further characterization and bioactivity-guided research.
Abstract
Curcuma lampangensis, a critically endangered species endemic to Thailand, has been successfully propagated in vitro; however, its phytochemical profile and biological activities remain uncharacterized. This study compared eight ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts from the aerial and belowground tissues of wild and in vitro-derived plants. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents, DPPH and ABTS radical-scavenging activities, and tyrosinase-inhibitory activity were evaluated alongside chemical profiling by HPLC-DAD, targeted LC–MS/MS, and GC–MS. The ethyl acetate extract of wild belowground tissues showed the highest TPC (5.21 mg GAE/g DW), while the ethyl acetate extract of in vitro-derived aerial tissues exhibited the highest TFC (1.59 mg QE/g DW) and ABTS activity (63.11%). The ethanol extract of wild belowground tissues showed the strongest DPPH activity (70.48%), and the ethyl acetate extract of in vitro-derived belowground tissues demonstrated the greatest tyrosinase inhibition (52.12%). HPLC and LC–MS/MS revealed a diverse phenolic and flavonoid profile, with p-coumaric acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, chlorogenic acid, and quercetin consistently detected across all extracts, while ferulic and caffeic acids were widely distributed. GC–MS tentatively identified ethyl palmitate, linoleic acid ethyl ester, and ethyl oleate as predominant constituents. These findings demonstrate that in vitro-derived biomass retains appreciable phytochemical and biological properties, supporting its use as a renewable, conservation-compatible material for further characterization and bioactivity-guided research.