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1School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy, Abhilashi University Chail Chowk, H.P. (Mandi)
2Research Scholar, School of Pharmacy, Abhilashi University Chail Chowk
Curculigo Capitulata (Lour.) O. kuntze is a perennial medicinal herb that is found in tropical regions of Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas. It is a member of the Hypoxidaceae family (often categorized under Amaryllidaceae). The herb has long been used traditionally in Chinese, Indian, and Dai medicine to treat inflammatory, gastrointestinal, reproductive, respiratory, and renal illnesses.In Southeast Asia, ethnobotanical uses for it include wound treatments, food, and fiber. A wide variety of bioactive components, such as phenols, phenolic glycosides, norlignans, lignan glycosides, flavonoids, terpenoids, polysaccharides, and bioactive proteins, have been identified by phytochemical analyses of C. capitulata. Among these, phenolic glycosides and norlignans are thought to be the main sources of its pharmacological effects. Numerous biological properties, including antibacterial, antifungal, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and osteogenic activity, have been shown by pharmacological research. Notably, extracts and isolated compounds from C. By encouraging osteoblast proliferation and differentiation via PI3K/Akt and estrogen receptor-mediated signaling pathways, capitulata have demonstrated encouraging anti-osteoporosis effects. This paper highlights Curculigo capitulata's potential as a useful source of therapeutic compounds and supports more research for drug development by summarizing its taxonomy, habitat, traditional applications, phytochemistry, and pharmacological qualities.
Curculigo capitulate L. is a member of the Curculigo genus, which is a member of the Hypoxidaceae family. It is found in many tropical locations, including Asia, Africa, Australia, and America. There are fifteen species in the genus Curculigo globally, but only eight have been found in Vietnam [1]. There are twenty species in the genus Curculigo (Amaryllidaceae) (Flora of China, 2006). Some of these species are significant herbal remedies that are believed to have therapeutic qualities. In India and China, Curculigo capitulata (Lour) O. Ktze has long been used medicinally. It was first used to cure hemorrhoids, asthma, jaundice, diarrhea, colic, and gonorrhea [2]. Records indicate that the plants in the genus Curculigo are commonly used to strengthen bones, improve yang, and tonify the kidneys. In vitro osteoblast proliferation has been demonstrated by the genus Curculigo's chlorophenolic glycosides and polysaccharides [3].Proteins, polysaccharides, and monosaccharides are only isolated from Curculigo latifolia, Curculigo orchioides, and Curculigo pilosa; norlignans and phenolic compounds are frequently isolated from Curculigo orchioides, Curculigo capitulata, Curculigo crassifolia, Curculigo breviscapa, and Curculigo sinensis [4]. Curculigo's recognized norlignan chemicals are responsible for its anti-cancer or anti-carcinogenic properties, while phenolic glycoside and phenolic glucoside are responsible for additional significant activities [5]. Three new norlignans, a new chalcone dimer, a new hemiacetal, two novel pyrrolidine-based compounds—one of which was found to be a natural product—and nineteen recognized compounds were extracted from Curculigo capitulata in order to determine the neuroprotective components in this plant [6]. A number of norlignan glycosides [1± 4] and curcapitoside, a new glucosyl-fused phenanthropyran, have been isolated from the polar fraction of Curculigo capitulate (Lour.) O. Kuntze alias C. recurvata as a result of recent chemical research. Three norlignan glucosides were discovered to have anti-arrhythmic qualities: nyasicoside, 1S-O-butyl-nyasicosides, and 1R-O-butyl-nyasicosides [7]. In Dai medicine in Yunnan, China, curculigo capitulata was utilized as an ethnomedicine to treat conditions like nephritis, chronic bronchitis, and inflammation of the reproductive system [8].
Origin: It is indigenous to South Asia, which includes nations like Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Southeast China, Taiwan, the East Himalayas, and Northern Australia. Additionally, tropical Africa is home to it [9].
Altitude: Usually found from lowland areas to montane regions, natural occurrences have been observed from near sea level up to around 2000 m above sea level; some studies report elevations between 850 and 2200 m in specific portions of its range [10-11].
In traditional Chinese and Indian medicine, curculigo capitulata is used to treat consumptive cough, kidney asthenia, impotence and spermatorrhea, hemorrhoids, asthma, jaundice, diarrhea, colic, and gonorrhea. In traditional Dai medicine, it is used to treat urinary tract infections, acute renal pelvis and nephritis, nephritis-edema, cystitis, nephrolithiasis, hypertension, and rheumatic arthritis [12-13].
Curculigo capitulata is the scientific name (fig. 1).
Family: Amaryllidaceae [16] and Hypoxidaceae [1].
Morphology
This family's members are perennial herbs with typical taxonomic characteristics such as: basal leaves with persistent leaf bases, petiolate or sessile; lanceolate blades with prominent plicate venation and non-glandular integument-type indumentum; solitary or racemose/spicate inflorescences, sometimes with drastically shortened axes forming capitate or corymbose arrangements; actinomorphic flowers with six tepals in two whorls, the inner whorl larger, petaloid, and golden-yellow; an inferior ovary with a beak at the apex [17–18].
Fig. 1 Curculigo capitulate
Phenols, phenolic glucosides, terpenoids, and norlignans are the primary constituents of Curculigo. According to the investigations, Curculigo has about 111 secondary metabolites, three proteins, and two polysaccharides [19]. Phenolic glycosides, phenols, lignan glycosides, lignans, triterpenoid glycosides, triterpenes, polysaccharides like COPb-1 and COPf-1, flavones, aliphatic compounds, alkaloids, eudesmanes, and bioactive proteins like neoculin, curculin, and β-amylase were found to be present in the extracts of methanol, ethanolate extract of C. capitulate [20-21]
Norlignans
Since norlignans are the main source of anticancer activities, they are among the significant substances. Three norlignan compounds were identified from the ethanolic rhizome extract of Curculigo capitulata plants: capituloside, curculigenin, and isocurculigenin [22]. Additionally, two new norlignans—brevicapin C and breviscaside B—as well as six other known norlignans—curcapital, curcapitoside, pilosidine, and crassifoside H—were reportedly isolated from Curculigo breviscapa for the first time the following year [23]. Breviscaside A and Breviscapin B (50), two other novel norlignans that were later isolated from the same plant, had their structures clarified by 2D NMR spectral analysis [24].
Terpenoids
Terpenoids are organic compounds that are found in nature. Curculigo orchioides was used to isolate nine different types of cycloartane glycosides, and the compound's cytotoxic properties were assessed using 60-HL human promyelocytic leukemia cells [25]. Curculigosaponin N and curculigosaponin O are two novel cycloartane glycosides that were discovered from Curculigo orchioides Gaertn rhizomes. It was claimed that spectroscopic analysis, coupled with IR, MS, 1D, and 2D NMR, was the only method used to determine their structures [26].
Monosaccharides and polysaccharides
Monosaccharides that are extracted from Curculigo orchioides Gaertn make up polysaccharides. Curculigo orchioides was used to isolate COP90-1, a novel type of water-soluble O-acetylglucomannan with a molecular weight of 4609 Da. It was found to consist of (1→4)-linked-beta-D-Manp, (1→4)-linked 3-O-acetyl-beta-D-Manp, (1→4)-linked-beta-D-Glcp, (1, 3→6)-linked-beta-D-Manp, and beta-D-Glcp. COP90-1 has been shown to increase the proliferation and differentiation of primary osteoblasts [27]. In the years that followed, CO70 was once more isolated from Curculigo orchioides and was found to exhibit anti-osteoporosis properties comparable to those of 17β-estradiol and COP70-3, which was separated and refined from 78. Its backbone chain contains residues of (1→5)-linked α-L-Araf, (1,3→5)-linked α-L-Araf, (1→6)-linked β-D-Galp, (1→4)-linked β-D-Manp, (1,2→5)-linked α-L-Araf, (1→3)-linked β-L-Rhap, (1,3→6)-linked β-D-Manp, (1→3)-linked α-D-GalpA, (1,3→6)-linked β-D-Galp, and (1→6)-linked β-D-Glcp [28]. Curculigo orchioides polysaccharides (COPs) were obtained by researchers utilizing the hot water-ethanol precipitation method, and FTIR, NMR, methylation, and chromatography were used to characterize their characteristics. A DEAE-Sepharose rapid flow column has reportedly been used to purify COPs. COPs, which are made up of Rha, Ara, Fru, Xyl, Man, Glc, Gal, Glu A, and Gal A, were found to have a molecular weight of 4756Da. It has been documented to demonstrate bone tissue stimulation and healing[29]. A new heteropolysaccharide COP70-1 was isolated from COP7 and it was reported to have been composed of (β-D-Manp-(1→, →4)-α-D-Glcp-(1→, →4)- β -D-Manp-(1→, →3,4)-β-D-Manp-(1→, →4,6)-β-D-Manp-(-1→, and →4,6)-α-DGalp-(1→. COP70-1).Critical transcription factors of the BMP and Wnt pathways, such as BMP2, p-SMAD1, active-β-catenin, p-GSK-3β, and LEF-1, were reported to have been induced by 81 to increase alkaline phosphatase activity and promote MC3T3-E1 cell differentiation and it is known to have been one of the main agent for treating osteoporosis [30].
Proteins
Curculigo latifolia is the source of a sweet-tasting protein whose active component is curculin, which is made up of two active subunits and another compound called neoculin. The basic subunit of this protein is the monomeric curculin, which has an acidic, glycosylated subunit with 113 amino acid residues. The two primary protein components found in Curculigo latifolia are curculin and neoculin [31-32] and it is referred to as a natural sweetener that can be utilized in industries and pharmaceuticals as a taste-modifying agent [33- 34].
Antimicrobial activity
According to Tianyan Yun et al., recently obtained extracts from Curculigo Capulata, a medicinal herb, exhibited strong antifungal action against Foc TR4 [35]. The bacteriostatic activity was raised by 72.13% at the same time as the fermentation broth optimization method was developed [36].
Hepatoprotective activity
Rats treated to carbon tetrachloride showed decreased levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidases [37]. MECO rhizomes boosted food intake and weight growth. Serum lipids, cholesterol, and phospholipids were returned to normal, and liver and serum protein levels were reduced [38].
Osteogenic Effects and Anti-Osteoporosis
In both in vitro cell models and animal models of postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP), a recent experimental investigation discovered that the whole extract of C. capitulata stimulated osteoblast proliferation and differentiation. Mechanistically, this led to increased bone formation and decreased apoptosis by activating signaling pathways like ERα and PI3K/Akt and upregulating osteogenic markers like Runx2, OCN, and OPN [39-40].
Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Properties
C. capitulata methanolic extracts have been shown to have anti-inflammatory qualities. At higher concentrations (e.g., 500 µg/mL), these extracts had action similar to typical anti-inflammatory drugs and prevented protein denaturation, a proxy for inflammation [41–42].
CONCLUSION
Capitulata Curculigo (Lour.) O. kuntze is a significant medicinal plant that has long been used in Asian medical systems to treat conditions linked to the bones, kidneys, reproductive system, respiratory system, and inflammation. Its extensive geographic range and ethnobotanical uses emphasize its medicinal and socioeconomic importance. The plant is rich in bioactive components, including norlignans, phenolic compounds, phenolic glycosides, terpenoids, flavonoids, polysaccharides, and proteins, many of which are responsible for its many pharmacological actions, according to phytochemical research. Its antibacterial, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and osteogenic qualities have been validated by experimental research, and it has significant potential for the treatment of osteoporosis. To clarify molecular pathways, assess safety and efficacy, and confirm therapeutic applications, more research is necessary despite encouraging preclinical results. All things considered, C. capitulata is an important natural resource with a great deal of promise for future drug development.
REFERENCES
Nishant Sharma, Naveen Kumar*, Abhishek Soni, Vineet Kapoor, Review Article on Pharmacognostic and Pharmacological Study and The Various Activity of Curculigo Capitulata, Int. J. of Pharm. Sci., 2026, Vol 4, Issue 5, 4818-4825. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20284171
10.5281/zenodo.20284171