Integrated research on Kaempferia parvifl ora for development of health products

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Bungorn Sripanidkulchai

Abstract

Integrated research is a crucial platform in the success of product development of herbs.
Accordingly, the scientifi c evidence to provide the pharmacological data as traditional claim suggests
the health benefi t and further steps of suitable product design and clinical trial of the potential medicinal
plant. During the pass decade, our research center has continuously been supported to organize
the research network on Thai plant namely Krachidum or Kaempferia parvifl ora. K. parvifl ora is a traditional
medicine that has been widely used as the health promoter among the mountain people of
Thailand. Several pharmacological activities of the plant rhizome extract were reported, which include
ant-infl ammation, immunomodulation, antimicrobials, improvement of blood fl uidity and increment of
blood fl ow, antihypercholesteremic, antiobesity, improvement of the quality of life, antistress and
enhancement of the physical endurance. Therefore, nutraceutical products are potentially developed
from the plant rhizome. Although the products in the forms of tea, wine, capsule are available in the
market, but the product effi cacy is still the concerned issue of the consumer. The pharmacokinetic
parameters of three major compounds of plant, which are 5,7-dimethoxyfl avone (DMF), 5,7,4’-trimethoxyfl
avone (TMF) and 3,5,7,3’,4’-pentamethoxy-fl avone (PMF) have been investigated. The results
demonstrated the detectable levels of AUC, Cmax, Tmax, T1/2 and several target tissues distribution of
these three compounds, but with their low bioavailability, suggesting the low absorption of these compounds
in the intestinal trace. The nano carriers containing the plant extract in the forms of cyclodextrin
complex and self microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) were successfully developed
to increase these methoxyfl avone bioavailability. Clinical trials of K. parvifl ora capsule demonstrated
the positive modulation effect on health-related physical fi tness in healthy elderly volunteers and the
improvement of muscle endurance in soccer players. Moreover, K. parvifl ora capsule also enhanced
parameters related to erectile dysfunction in healthy elderly volunteers.

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