Extraction and Isolation of Phytochemicals from Kaempferia rotunda Linn. (White Turmeric) for Pharmacological Application A Review

Kaempferia rotunda (white turmeric) is an indigenous plant from Southeast Asia that is traditionally used for human health. The plant has been widely used, especially in the main and tuberous parts of the rhizome, which are rich in essential oils. This review examines the effects of various extraction methods and solvents on the phytochemical composition of K. rotunda as well as the pharmacological activities of the phytochemicals from the extracts. Several databases such as Scopus, Pubmed, and Google Scholar were used to search for published articles within the last ten years using specific keywords. The outcomes showed that Kaempferia rotunda is extracted by several extraction methods, such as maceration, reflux, and soxhletation using suitable organic solvents. Meanwhile, the maceration method is mostly preferred to extract its phytochemical compounds due to its ease in technicalities and the acquisition of isolated compounds. Various phytochemicals in each solvent extraction exhibit a variety of pharmacological activities, including antioxidants, antielastases, antithyrosinases, UV protection, antibacterial, antimutagenic, anticancer, antinociceptive, antihyperglycemic, antiallergic, antiandrogenic, anthelmintic, and wound healing. Benzyl benzoate, crotepoxide, 5- hydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone, 7-hydroxy 5-methoxyflavanone7-dihydroxyflavanone, and methyl-D-galactopyranoside (lectin specific) were isolated by chromatography method to determine the phytochemicals responsible for its pharmacological activities and mechanism. Subsequently, their pharmacological activities were tested in vitro. The findings of this study demonstrate the relationships among several elements, such as extraction ethods, solvent, duration of extraction, pharmacological activities of extracts, and isolated phytochemicals from K. rotunda.