Abstract

• Curcuma petiolata, also known as the petiole turmeric and as referred to as Malar in Myanmar is primarily used in traditional medicine for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Additionally, its rhizome is utilised as a culinary spice in various Southeast Asian dishes, adding flavour and colour. This study aims to explore the preliminary phytochemical tests, soluble matter content, antimicrobial, antioxidant, cytotoxic, and anti-arthritic properties of the rhizome of C. petiolata. In this study, the preliminary phytochemical investigation, it was found that alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, tannins, α-amino acids, carbohydrates, phenolic compounds, reducing sugars, organic acids, steroids, and terpenoids were present in the rhizome of C. petiolata. The extractable matter contents of the sample were determined by the WHO method with different solvents such as water, ethanol, methanol, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and petroleum ether. The resultant data indicated that the selected sample is more soluble in water. Additionally, the antimicrobial activity of crude extracts such as petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, ethanol, and watery extracts of C. petiolata was tested on eight microorganisms by agar well diffusion method. The antioxidant activity of ethanol and watery extracts of C. petiolata rhizome was evaluated by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay. A brine shrimp lethality bioassay investigated the cytotoxicity of the watery and ethanol extracts. The egg albumin denaturation method performed the anti-arthritic activity of watery and ethanol extracts. As a result, C. petiolata contains biologically active compounds and exhibits medicinal properties.