Distichochlamys genus, belonging to the ginger family, are native to Vietnam and there has not been many research mentioned about biological properties of this genus. In this study, essential oils were extracted from the rhizomes of Distichochlamys benenica (DBEO) and Distichochlamys citrea (DCEO), and the components were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Further, for the first time, the anti-inflammatory activity of these essential oils was evaluated in vitro using nitric oxide inhibitory assay and in silico via binding with the inflammatory cyclooxygenase proteins (COX-1 and COX-2). The main constituents of DBEO and DCEO, according to the results, were 1,8-cineole, (E)-citral and (Z)-citral. The nitric oxide release was inhibited by DBEO and DCEO, with IC 50 values of 27.13±2.43 and 37.44±3.02 µg/ mL, respectively. Moreover, the COX-1 and COX-2 proteins formed strong bonds with 1,8-cineole, (E)- citral, and (Z)-citral, whose free energies roughly ranged from -54.78 to -84.08 kcal/mol. These results suggested that by inhibiting multiple inflammatory proteins, DBEO and DCEO may have a promising anti-inflammatory effect.
Keywords: Distichochlamys benenica; Distichochlamys citrea; docking study; essential oil; inhibition of NO release.