Essential Oil Composition Anti-inflammatory Activities and Distribution of Fruits of Alpinia oxyphylla Miq.

The perennial herb Alpinia oxyphylla Miq. (Zingiberaceae) is an important traditional medicinal plant in China. The present study evaluated the chemical composition of A. oxyphylla essential oil (AOEO) using GC-MS. The AOEO contained 55 compounds, including nootkatone (20.12%), valencene (12.26%), and ethyl-p-methoxycinnamate (5.00%). Previous studies have shown that AOEO possesses significant antioxidant and antibacterial activities. However, the anti-inflammatory effect of AOEO on tissue plasminogen activator (TPA)-induced ear edema is yet to be reported. In this study, TPA-induced ear edema was used to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of AOEO. Hematoxylin and eosin staining of mouse tissue sections indicated that AOEO reduced the degree of edema, and immunohistochemistry experiments revealed that AOEO inhibited the expression of tumor necrosis factors, such as cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB). A. oxyphylla is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine with good biological activity. Analysis of the species potential geographical distribution and diversity indicated that the species can be rationally protected and exploited. Based on the chemical composition and biological activity of AOEO, further research and development should effectively promote the development of medicine, food, and cosmetics industries. The potential distribution of A. oxyphylla under current climatic conditions was predicted using DIVA-GIS and geographic information from herbarium specimens and other documents. The species predicted distribution spanned more than 12 provinces in China and was the most extensive in Hainan. Under current climatic conditions, A. oxyphylla is suitable for growing and expanding its population in the warm, humid regions of southern China.