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PC-15

Phytochemical profiling and assessment of antioxidant and anti-

inflammatory activities in Ludisia discolor roots and stems

3
2
Cheng-Sin Lin, #,1 Shih-Yun Huang, Cheng-Ming Tsai, Sio-Hong Lam,* ,2,3 Wen-
Chieh Tsai* ,1

1 Institute of Tropical Plant Sciences and Microbiology, National Cheng Kung University,
Tainan, Taiwan
2 School of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, National Cheng Kung
University, Tainan, Taiwan
3 School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
# First author
* E-mail: tsaiwc@mail.ncku.edu.tw; shlam@mail.ncku.edu.tw

Abstract
Ludisia discolor is a terrestrial medicinal orchid traditionally used in Chinese medicine for
nourishing the lungs, invigorating the kidneys, relieving cough, reducing inflammation, and
enhancing vitality. Despite its ethnomedicinal importance, the chemical composition of its roots
and stems has remained largely uncharacterized. In this study, the roots and stems of L. discolor
were extracted with ethanol. The resulting extracts were sequentially partitioned into water-,
chloroform-, and ethyl acetate–soluble fractions. The chloroform layer exhibited significant
anti-inflammatory activity in preliminary superoxide anion generation and elastase release
assays using neutrophilic cell. Chemical isolation was performed by reversed-phase semi-
preparative high-performance liquid chromatography, and compound structures were
elucidated by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in combination with MS analysis. Three
compounds were obtained, including two glycosides and one glucosyloxybenzyl succinate
derivative. Antioxidant activity, evaluated via DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays,
revealed considerable free radical–inhibitory potential. These findings expand the
phytochemical and pharmacological understanding of L. discolor, provide a scientific basis for
its traditional medicinal applications, and underscore its potential as a source of bioactive
natural products. Future work will focus on detailed chemical identification, pharmacological
evaluations, structure–activity relationship studies, and potential applications in anti-
inflammatory and antioxidant therapeutics.

Keywords: Orchidaceae; Ludisia discolor; Anti-inflammatory; Antioxidant