Botanical characteristics
and ITS sequence of Curcuma pierreana Gagnep. – Zingiberaceae
Thi Ngoc Huong Nguyen, Ngoc Giang Cao, Buu Son Le, Thanh Thao Vu and Anh Tuan Le
Res. J. Biotech.; Vol. 20(5); 100-110;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/205rjbt1000110; (2025)
Abstract
Curcuma pierreana Gagnep. contains essential oils in all parts and rhizomes are
used in traditional medicine for treating hyperthermia and irregular menstruation.
Stigmasterol from the rhizome was found to inhibit ovarian and prostate cancer cells.
However, botanical information regarding this species remains limited. Therefore,
this study aimed to investigate detailed characteristics of Curcuma pierreana Gagnep.
using samples collected from the nature reserve of Nam Khanh Hoa, Vietnam. The collected
samples were determined to be Curcuma pierreana based on morphological characteristics:
Leaf blades have red patches along the midrib and leaf sheaths are reddish brown
and hairy. The rhizome is segmented, covered with thin scales, has yellow flesh
and has an oval tuberous root. Inflorescences grow between the leaf sheaths and
the tips of the bracts are red.
The L-shaped anthers have 2 filamentous spurs, the common crest is triangular and
the dorsal surface of the anther has many white hairs. The ovary is hairy and the
stigma is funnel-shaped. Anatomical characteristics include tetracellular stomata,
many yellow oil cells, unicellular protective hairs, many vascular bundles in the
cortex of the rhizome and an endodermis with a Casparian strip. Sequence analysis
of the ITS gene segment, compared with data on GenBank, shows 99.3% similarity with
the published Curcuma pierreana species sequence. The research results provide detailed
images of morphology and ITS sequence, contributing to the accurate identification
of Curcuma pierreana species in Vietnam.
