Bioactive Compound Profiling and Biological Potential of Walay Rhizome (Zingiberaceae) from Southeast Sulawesi: GC-MS and LC-MS Analysis

The Zingiberaceae family comprises various plant species distributed worldwide, including in Indonesia. Recent discoveries have added new genera, such as Cinnamomum, Meistera, and Wurfbainia. Walay (Meistera chinensis) is an endemic plant found in Southeast Sulawesi, though its chemical compounds and biological activities are largely unexplored. This study examines the chemical composition of walay rhizomes using GC-MS and LC-MS and investigates its biological activities, including toxicity, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. The concentration of phenolic and flavonoid was determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride. Toxicity was evaluated through the Brine Shrimp Lethality Test (BSLT). The bioactivity of the extract is studied using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) for antioxidant assays and protein denaturation inhibition for anti-inflammatory assay. GC-MS analysis identified compounds including caryophyllene, hydroquinone, z-(13,14-epoxy) tetradec-11-en-1-ol acetate, cis-vaccenic acid, and copaene. LC-MS analysis identified phillygenin, 2-methoxyanofinic acid, feroxidin, (E)-hexadecyl-ferulate, and spinasterol. The walay rhizome extract demonstrated a high LC50 value at 25.37 mg/L. Its antioxidant effect differs from vitamin C, with IC50 values of 10.44 mg/L (DPPH) and 2.44 mg/L (ABTS), compared to vitamin C IC50 of 8.29 mg/L and 8.61 mg/L, respectively. Anti-inflammatory activity showed an IC50 of 2.70 mg/mL, compared to diclofenac’s IC50 of 4.41 mg/mL. The extract's TPC and TFC were 515.71 mg GAE/g and 79.56 mg QE/g, respectively. GC-MS and LC-MS analyses identified bioactive compounds various chemical categories, including fatty acids, terpenoids, phenolics, aromatics, steroids, phenylpropanoids, and quinones. Supported by previous studies, the identified compounds in walay rhizome are potential with its anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties.