STUDY ON THE QUALITY OF RHIZOMA CURCUMAE

AIM To study the chemical constituents of Rhizoma Curcumae and their pharmacological action to find out the effective components. The effective components should agree with the main curative effect in Chinese traditional medicine. Based on the contents of effective components, evaluation for the quality of Rhizoma Curcumae was investigated. METHODS A method of column chromatography was used to separate the components. After identification, the effective components were confirmed by several pharmacological tests. An HPLC method was developed for the determination of the effective components. RESULTS Seven compounds were isolated from Rhizoma Curcumae. They are curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin, curcumol, curdione, isocurcumenol and germacrone. Curcumin showed strong pharmacological action but was not detected in Curcuma kwangsiensis. Germacrone showed weaker pharmacological action and was found in all species of Rhizoma Curcumae. As an extract part, the volatile matter showed stronger action. CONCLUSION Curcumin and germacrone were selected as the effective components and the volatile matter also as the effective part. Considerable difference of the contents was detected in different species of Rhizoma Curcumae.