Xanthorrhizol

Xanthorrhizol is the phenolic sesquiterpene characteristic of wild turmeric oil. As a substituted phenol it has weak acid activity and tissue corrosive potential. Direct dermal toxicity data are limited.

Kidney. Mice given 200 mg/kg/day orally for 4 days before cisplatin treatment showed significantly attenuated cisplatin nephrotoxicity.

Cancer. Potently inhibits COX-2 and iNOS in vitro, correlating with chemopreventive activity. Active against MCF-7 breast cancer and HepG2 hepatoma cells through apoptosis induction. Active against sarcoma 180 ascites in mice at 50 mg/kg. Intraperitoneal doses of 0.1 to 1.0 mg/kg for 2 weeks inhibited lung tumor nodule formation by 36 to 63 percent.

Xanthorrhizol is one of the central constituents behind the biological activity of wild turmeric Curcuma aromatica. The compound combines a bisabolane sesquiterpene skeleton with a phenol moiety.