title: Antinociceptive principle from Curcuma aeruginosa.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The rhizome of Curcuma aeruginosa Roxb (Zingiberaceae) has been used as a traditional folk medicine for the treatment of rheumatic disorders in Bangladesh. The aim of the current study was the bioassay-guided isolation and purification of an antinociceptive principle from the methanol extract of C. aeruginosa rhizomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The antinociceptive activity was determined using acetic acid induced writhing and formalin induced licking in the Swiss albino mice to investigate central and peripheral antinociceptive principle of C. aeruginosa rhizomes. Vacuum Liquid Chromatography (VLC) and open column chromatography were used for separation. Crystallization was used for the purification of the isolated compound germacrone (1). Diclofenac (10 mg/kg) and aspirin (100 mg/kg) were used as positive control and 5% carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) in distilled water (10 ml/kg) for negative control were used in the acetic acid induced writhing and formalin induced licking methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The methanol extract exhibited 37.50 and 45.31% inhibition of writhing; 33.27 and 38.13% inhibition of licking in the first phase and 69.72, 73.71% inhibition of licking in the second phase at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg, respectively. VLC of the extract yielded five fractions (Fr. 1 to Fr. 5). Fr. 1 exhibited 33.98% inhibition that was comparably higher than other fractions (Fr. 2 to Fr. 5) at a dose of 100 mg/kg. Column chromatography of Fr. 1 generated five fractions (SF. 1 to SF. 5). Fraction SF.3 exhibited 46.88% inhibition that was most potent among the other fractions at a dose of 50 mg/kg. Crystallization of the fraction SF.3 yielded germacrone (1), a cyclic sesquiterpene. Germacrone (1) showed 22.66, 34.77 and 51.17% inhibition of writhing at doses of 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg, respectively; 30.43 and 37.53% inhibition in the initial phase and 32.27 and 60.96% inhibition in the second phase of licking at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Germacrone (1) showed a potent activity in both writhing and licking methods that indicates the compound as a central and peripheral antinociceptive principle of C. aeruginosa rhizomes with possible anti-inflammatory activity.
authors.affiliation: Present address: Department of Pharmacy, East West University, Plot no-A/2, Jahurul Islam Avenue, Jahurul Islam City, Aftabnagar, Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh. cfhossain@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Chowdhury Faiz
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.affiliation: Present address: Department of Pharmacy, East West University, Plot no-A/2, Jahurul Islam Avenue, Jahurul Islam City, Aftabnagar, Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Amin
authors.affiliation: Present address: Department of Pharmacy, East West University, Plot no-A/2, Jahurul Islam Avenue, Jahurul Islam City, Aftabnagar, Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Abu Sadat Md
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Sayem
authors.affiliation: Present address: Department of Pharmacy, East West University, Plot no-A/2, Jahurul Islam Avenue, Jahurul Islam City, Aftabnagar, Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Ismail Hossain
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Siragee
authors.affiliation: Present address: Department of Pharmacy, East West University, Plot no-A/2, Jahurul Islam Avenue, Jahurul Islam City, Aftabnagar, Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Asif Mahmud
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tunan
authors.affiliation: Present address: Department of Pharmacy, East West University, Plot no-A/2, Jahurul Islam Avenue, Jahurul Islam City, Aftabnagar, Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Fahima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, East West University, Plot no-A/2, Jahurul Islam City, Aftabnagar, Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Md Mohiuddin
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Kabir
authors.affiliation: Centre for Advanced Research in Sciences (CARS), University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Gazi Nurun Nahar
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Sultana
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D030024:Curcuma / Q000737:chemistry*; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D051379:Mice; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D010936:Plant Extracts