Optimization and in vitro antiproliferation of Curcuma wenyujin’s active extracts by ultrasonication and response surface methodology

BACKGROUND: Curcuma wenyujin, a member of the genus Curcuma, has been widely prescribed for anti-cancer therapy. Multiple response surface optimization has attracted a great attention, while, the research about optimizing three or more responses employing response surface methodology (RSM) was very few. RESULTS: RSM and desirability function (DF) were employed to get the optimum ultrasonic extraction parameters, in which the extraction yields of curdione, furanodienone, curcumol and germacrone from C. wenyujin were maximum. The yields in the extract were accurately quantified using the validated high performance liquid chromatography method with a good precision and accuracy. The optimization results indicated that the maximum combined desirability 97.1 % was achieved at conditions as follows: liquid–solid ratio, 8 mL g(−1); ethanol concentration, 70 % and ultrasonic time, 20 min. The extraction yields gained from three verification experiments were in fine agreement with those of the model’s predictions. The surface morphologies of the sonication-treated C. wenyujin were loose and rough. The extract of C. wenyujin presented obvious antiproliferative activities against RKO and HT-29 cells in vitro. CONCLUSION: Response surface methodology was successfully applied to model and optimize the ultrasonic extraction of four bioactive components from C. wenyujin for antiproliferative activitiy. [Figure: see text] ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13065-016-0177-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.