Phytochemical composition and bioactivities of essential oils from two Zingiberaceae species in Thailand

This study investigated the phytochemical composition and bioactive properties of essential oils extracted from the rhizomes of two Zingiberaceae species, Boesenbergia rotunda and Curcuma longa, sourced from the Tenasserim Range in Ratchaburi, Thailand. The essential oils were obtained through hydrodistillation and analyzed using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Their antioxidant and antibacterial activities were also assessed. The C. longa essential oil, with a yield of 1.52%, was predominantly composed of ar-turmerone (27.91%), α-terpinolene (14.16%), and 1,8-cineole (12.32%). By contrast, the B. rotunda oil, with a yield of 1.02%, was rich in camphor (23.28%), 1,8-cineole (15.67%), and β-cis-ocimene (14.79%). Antioxidant assays showed that C. longa exhibited stronger radical-scavenging activity than B. rotunda. Both essential oils demonstrated limited antibacterial effects against the tested pathogenic strains, with significantly lower efficacy compared to erythromycin. These findings underscored the chemical diversity and bioactive potential of essential oils from Zingiberaceae species, suggesting promising applications in skincare and wellness products, while highlighting the need for further research to enhance their antibacterial efficacy.