Analytical Method Development for Authentication of Alpinia galanga Rhizome Based on Phenylpropanoid Markers by RP-HPLC-UV

Abstract

Current reports have revealed that Alpinia galanga rhizome is among the most promising medicinal plants for possible cancer treatments. Their active markers have been proposed as phenylpropanoid group derivatives. The geographical origins may result in the chemical constituent diversity that might affect A. galanga bioactivity. A rapid and economic HPLC-UV method has been developed to allow the analysis of four chemical markers, namely trans-p-coumaryl alcohol (1), p-coumaryl diacetate (2), [1’S]-1’-acetoxy chavicol (3), and trans-p-coumaryl diacetate (4). Separation was achieved on the C-18 column using a methanol-water solvent system without any modifiers. The samples were collected from twelve cultivation centers of A. galanga in Indonesia: Karangpandan, Karanganyar Solo, Wonogiri, Klaten, Selogiri, Boyolali, Jogja, Kudus, Singkawang, Banjarmasin, and Lampung. Their chemical profiles were examined based of HPLC-UV technique. The chromatography system was able to reveal all of the markers. Interestingly, all of the samples displayed significant T47D breast cancer cell inhibitory activity with apparent IC50 values of 27 to 65 µg/mL. The presence of 1 or 2 in a high concentration did not significantly contribute to the inhibitory effect, but the presence of 3 and 4 in a certain percentage might maintain the activity. Furthermore, on the basis of principal component analysis (PCA), A. galanga samples collected from different geographical origins could be featured. This efficient HPLC-based technique possesses a good prospect of being applied for industrial purposes.