Metabolic profiling of Kaempferia galanga leaf and rhizome extract using GC-MS

Abstract

Kaempferia galanga Linn. is an endangered rhizomatous medicinal plant belonging to the Zingiberaceae family. It has evolved as an emerging industrial crop and dominates pharma as well as aroma sector. Though the extracts of this species have been extensively used in herbal medicine across the globe for the treatment of numerous diseases, but still the composition of the extract is not characterized properly. Thus, methanol extracts of K. galanga leaves and rhizomes were subjected to phytochemical screening, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) to analyze the phytoconstituents. Leaf extract contained more TPC and TFC values as compared to rhizome extract. A total of eight and ten compounds were identified in the leaf and rhizome extract accounting for 61.44% and 96.97% of the total peak area respectively. Ethyl p-methoxycinnamate was found as the main constituent in rhizome extract covering 80.39% of the total area. Other important compounds like ethyl cinnamate (9.61±0.45%), pentadecane (3.12±0.2%) were also found in the rhizome extract, whereas leaf extract contained 2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-7-hydroxy-3-methoxy-4H-chromen-4-one (18.26%), 2-(3-hydroxy-4- methoxyphenyl)-3,7-dimethoxy-4H-chromen-4-one (14.01%), octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (11.79%). The study indicated that K. galanga is a good source of phytoconstituents which can be used at the industrial level to produce pharmaceuticals, perfumes and flavouring agents.