Fractionation of Active Components from Curcuma xanthorrhiza Essential Oil as Aromatherapy for Antiobesity Using In Vivo Analysis

Abstract

The objectives of this research are to separate constituents of temulawak (Curcuma xanthorrhiza) essential oil and to evaluate their active components as aromatherapy for antiobesity using in vivo analysis. Fractionation of temulawak essential oil using silica gel column chromatography (gradient elution) produced 23 fractions. The activity of fraction 3 (F3), fraction 4 (F4), and the crude oil as aromatherapy for antiobesity were evaluated by in vivo analysis using male Sprague-Dawley rats. The in vivo test was performed in 5 groups (10 rats for each group). Group 1 was a negative control which consumed normal diet, group 2 consumed high cholesterol diet without treatment, group 3, 4, and 5 consumed high cholesterol diet with treatment inhalation of crude oil 1% (v/v), F3 1% (v/v), and F4 1% (v/v) which consist of β-elemenone as the main component, respectively. Group 5 showed an increasing body weight about 29.54% (w/w) close to that of group 1 (26.39% w/w), the lowest number of feed consumption (165.20 g), and their fecal output was 323 g. In addition, group 5 showed the highest liver weight (10.92±0.56 g) and the lowest parametrical fat weight (2.37±0.51 g). These results conclude that β-elemenone of temulawak essential oil is potential as aromatherapy for antiobesity.