Javanese Turmeric (Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb.): Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry, Biotechnology, and Pharmacological Activities

Abstract

Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb., locally famed as Temulawak, has been extensively utilized in Indonesia as medicinal and nutritional plants since immemorial time. The rhizome of this plant is an important ingredient for jamu formulation (Indonesian traditional medicine). C. xanthorrhiza is traditionally used to treat several ailments such as lack of appetite, stomach disorder, liver illness, constipation, bloody diarrhea, dysentery, arthritis, children’s fevers, hypotriglyceridaemia, hemorrhoids, vaginal discharge, rheumatism, and skin eruptions. To date, over 40 active compounds, including terpenoids, curcuminoids, and other phenolic compounds, have been isolated and identified from C. xanthorrhiza Roxb. Some pharmacological tests reported that C. xanthorrhiza Roxb. has antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and antitumor, antidiabetic, and skincare and hepatoprotective properties. Efforts for biotechnologically production of C. xanthorrhiza have also been conducted, resulting in some micropropagation protocols of this plant. The current review focuses on the botanical description and distribution, ethnomedicinal uses, production and conservation status, phytochemical properties, and pharmacological activities of C. xanthorrhiza Roxb. to provide accurate and reliable data for future researches and commercialization purposes.

Synergistic anti-inflammatory effects of Curcuma xanthorrhiza rhizomes and Physalis angulata herb extract on lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells

“…The chemical compositions of the extracts made of these two species varied in both quality and quantity due to environmental factors that affect plant metabolism (Rahmat et al, 2021;Sandeep et al, 2015;Zhang et al, 2016). The presence of secondary metabolites in both plants was determined, and the results are summarized in Table 1.…”

“…Curcuma xanthorrhiza has long been used as a traditional medicine and has been confirmed to have pharmacological properties such as anti-inflammatory effects (Rahmat et al, 2021). Although C. xanthorrhiza has demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties, clinical trials have shown that curcumin exhibits poor bioavailability.…”

Antimicrobial Potential of Ten Medicinal Plant Extracts Against Axillary Microbiota Causing Body Odor

“…Piper betle extract can also be used as an active ingredient to eliminate foot odor [18]. For Curcuma xanthorrhiza, the secondary metabolite compound in the rhizome, mainly curcumin and xanthorrhizol, have broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria [19]. Curcumin works by inhibiting cell proliferation, altering the permeability of the bacterial cells, and causing the uncontrollable movement of substances in and out of the cell [20].…”

In Vitro Replication Inhibitory Activity of Xanthorrhizol against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2

“…Moreover, recent studies have highlighted the potential use of traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) [ 11 , 12 , 13 ]. Curcuma xanthorrhizza, which is cultivated in Indonesia on an industrial scale and in some other Southeast Asian countries (Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam), and its extracts have been widely used for the treatment of diverse diseases in Indonesia, India, and China [ 14 ]. Xanthorrhizol (XNT; C 15 H 22 O, 2-methyl-5-[(2R)-6-methylhept-5-en-2-yl]phenol), also known as Java turmeric, is a major constituent of the rhizomes of Curcuma xanthorrhizza Roxb., a ginger-like plant of the family Zingiberaceae [ 15 ].…”

“…Xanthorrhizol (XNT; C 15 H 22 O, 2-methyl-5-[(2R)-6-methylhept-5-en-2-yl]phenol), also known as Java turmeric, is a major constituent of the rhizomes of Curcuma xanthorrhizza Roxb., a ginger-like plant of the family Zingiberaceae [ 15 ]. XNT can be either extracted from the Curcuma rhizome or chemically synthesized using simple starting materials [ 14 , 16 ]. It is known to possess a variety of biological activities, such as anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antihyperglycemic, antihypertensive, antiplatelet, nephroprotective, hepatoprotective, and estrogenic and/or anti-estrogenic effects [ 15 , 17 ].…”