Phytochemical Screening and Quantitative Evaluation of Nutritional Values of Zingiber officinale (Ginger)

Abstract

Phytochemical screening, proximate, mineral elements, and antinutritional composition of Zingiber officinale rhizome were determined with a view to assess it nutritional and medicinal values. The results of phytochemical screening showed that alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, polyphenols, cardiac glycosides and reducing sugars were present in both the aqueous extract (AE) and petroleum ether extract (PEE). While tannins, phlobatannins, anthranoids, hydroxyl anthroquinones and anthraquinones were absent in both aqueous extract (AE) and petroleum ether extract (PEE).The results of the proximate analysis showed that the rhizorne of Zingiber officinale contains 28.20±0.42% moisture, 4.20±0.01% ash, 4.00±0.01% lipids, 0.53±0.01% protein, 10.60±0.12% fibre and 80.60±0.16% carbohydrate. The results of proximate analysis revealed that Zingiber officinale rhizome is rich in carbohydrate but low in protein contents. The mineral elements composition in mg/100g revealed the following compositions: sodium (3.12±0.16), calcium (4.76±0.17), iron (2.82±0.11), chromium (1.55±0.09), lead (0.05±0.01), nickel (0.07±0.02), mercury (0.02±0.01) and cadmium (0.37±0.08). The mineral elements composition of Zingiber officinale revealed the presence of moderate amount of calcium which is a good source for strong teeths and bones formation but very low in lead and mercury which are toxic mineral elements. The Phytochemical screening revealed that Zingiber officinale have good secondary plants metabolites which justify its therapeutic utility.