Abstract

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF VOLATILE OIL OF THE RHIZOME OF ZINGIBER OFFICINALE ROSCOE AND ITS ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY

Shahnaz Sultana and Mohammed Ali*

ABSTRACT

Backgroud: The rhizomes of Zingiber officinale Roscoe (family Zingiberaceae) are used to treat insomnia, colds, rheumatism, baldness, urinary tract infections, gastrointestinal disorders, throat and chest infections and cough. The present study was designed to analyze a volatile oil of Z. officinale of Delhi region and to evaluate its antibacterial activity. Method: The fresh rhizomes were hydrodistilled to get a volatile oil which was analyzed by GLC and GC-MS. The oil was examined for antibacterial activity by cup and plate method. Result: The volatile oil contained a large number of monoterpenes (47.8 %) and sesquiterpenes (51.8%) with β-germacrene-D, linalool and camphene types. The predominant monoterpene was linalool (11.8 %) followed by camphene (9.4 %), limonene oxide (5.9 %), citronellal(3.6 %) and α- pinene (2.6 %). The major sesquiterpenes were β- germacrene-D (20.9 %), (Z)-β-farnesene (8.4 %), guaia-6,9-diene (8.3 %) and α-guiaene (3.5 %). The oil showed significant antimicrobial against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis and the fungus strains Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans . Conclusion: The major components of the oil were monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. It exhibited significant antimicrobial against pathogenic microorganisms.

Keywords: Zingiber officinale, rhizomes, volatile oil, analysis, antimicrobial activity.