Phytochemical Profiling and Combinatorial-Optimization of Zingiber officinale, Allium sativum and Curcuma longa Extracts for In-vitro \(Fe^{2+}\)-Chelation as Potential Heavy-Metal Detoxifiers

Abstract

This research investigated the bioactive compounds of Zingiber officinale (ginger), Allium sativum (garlic) and Curcuma longa (turmeric) and the combinatorial capacity of the extracts to chelate ferrous (Fe2+) ions. Phytochemicals were determined using gas chromatography-flame ionization detector and metal chelating capacity was evaluated by the in-vitro ferrous (Fe2+) ions Chelating power. This involved preparation of standardized ginger-garlic-turmeric extract combinations in predetermined ratios to evaluate the in vitro synergistic effects. The phytochemical profile of ginger presented appreciable values for catechin (192.06 μg/mL), kaempferol (61.97 μg/mL) and genistein (39.85 μg/mL) among other. Garlic recorded catechin (145.05 μg/mL), quercetin (101.60 μg/mL) and isorhamnetin (24.52 μg/mL) and genistein (19.25 μg/mL). Turmeric showed kaempferol (29.60 μg/mL), myricetin (18.28 μg/mL), catechin (18.19 μg/mL) and resveratrol (5.25 μg/mL). The chelating power of the different extracts and their combinations on ferrous (Fe2+) ions presented increasing inhibition capacity with rising concentrations across all the groups.  The best combinatorial extract for chelating ferrous (Fe²⁺) ions was the 60% Tumeric, 30% Garlic, 10% Ginger, which achieved a maximum inhibition of 84.75% at 80 mg/mL. This combination showed a steady rise in activity across concentrations, starting from 45.39% at 10 mg/mL and progressively peaked at 80 mg/mL. The results showed distinct but overlapping phytochemical profiles of the extracts and their remarkable potential in ameliorating oxidative stress and heavy metal-mediated toxicity in exposed animals.