Comparative Phytochemical Profiles and Antioxidant and Tyrosinase-Inhibitory Activities of Wild and In Vitro-Derived Curcuma lampangensis Saensouk, Maknoi & Rakarcha.

Curcuma lampangensis, a critically endangered species endemic to Thailand, has been successfully propagated in vitro; however, its phytochemical profile and biological activities remain uncharacterized. This study compared eight ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts from the aerial and belowground tissues of wild and in vitro-derived plants. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents, DPPH and ABTS radical-scavenging activities, and tyrosinase-inhibitory activity were evaluated alongside chemical profiling by HPLC-DAD, targeted LC-MS/MS, and GC-MS. The ethyl acetate extract of wild belowground tissues showed the highest TPC (5.21 mg GAE/g DW), while the ethyl acetate extract of in vitro-derived aerial tissues exhibited the highest TFC (1.59 mg QE/g DW) and ABTS activity (63.11%). The ethanol extract of wild belowground tissues showed the strongest DPPH activity (70.48%), and the ethyl acetate extract of in vitro-derived belowground tissues demonstrated the greatest tyrosinase inhibition (52.12%). HPLC and LC-MS/MS revealed a diverse phenolic and flavonoid profile, with p-coumaric acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, chlorogenic acid, and quercetin consistently detected across all extracts, while ferulic and caffeic acids were widely distributed. GC-MS tentatively identified ethyl palmitate, linoleic acid ethyl ester, and ethyl oleate as predominant constituents. These findings demonstrate that in vitro-derived biomass retains appreciable phytochemical and biological properties, supporting its use as a renewable, conservation-compatible material for further characterization and bioactivity-guided research.