Natural Product Radiance, Vol. 8(5), 2009, pp.507-513 Research Paper Nutritive value of some indigenous plant rhizomes resembling Ginger A K Indrayan*, Pragya Agrawal, Anuj K Rathi, Ajat Shatru, Nitin K Agrawal and Durvesh K Tyagi Natural Products Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Gurukula Kangri University, Hardwar-249 404, Uttarakhand, India * Correspondent author, E-mail : [email protected], Phone: + 91 1334 232465 Received 15 April 2008; Accepted 3 February 2009 Abstract Rhizomes of certain Ginger like species, viz. Alpinia officinarum Hance, A. galanga Willd., A. zerumbet (Pers.) Burtt & R M Smith (syn. A. speciosa K. Schum.), A. calcarata Rosc. and Kaempferia galanga Linn. have high medicinal value belonging to family Zingiberaceae. These rhizomes have a good nutritive value also (350.9 Cal per 100 g) and are quite rich in protein and carbohydrate, but low in fat. Rhizomes of A. officinarum, A. zerumbet and A. calcarata have high iron content with a moderate and balanced content of carbohydrate, protein, fat and crude fibre. Rhizomes of A. galanga are lowest in fat content but richest in carbohydrate. A. calcarata is lowest in Mn, Ni and K but richest in Ca and Na. Study shows the biologically important metals Cr, A. officinarum A. officinarum Rhizome Mn, Cu, Zn, Ca and Na to be sufficient in rhizomes of K. galanga. All these studied materials have a moderate to good antimicrobial activity. Keywords: Alpinia galanga, Alpinia calcarata, Alpinia officinarum, Alpinia speciosa, Alpinia zerumbet, Kaempferia galanga, Antimicrobial activity, Mineral elements, Nutritive value, Trace elements, Zingiberaceae. IPC code; Int. cl.8 — A61K 36/906, A61K 125/00, A61P 31/00, A23L 1/00, A23L 1/29 Introduction known. In the present study, the medicinal A. galanga A. galanga Rhizome Herbs have been an integral part and nutritional importance of certain of human life. Before he learned to hunt plants of same family (Zingiberaceae) animals, primitive man had depended on have been investigated and found to be plants for both food and medicine. quite interesting. The rhizomes of Medicines from plants were used to cure Alpinia officinarum, A. galanga, but simultaneously magic spells were A. zerumbet, A. calcarata and intoned as the plant material was applied. Kaempferia galanga have been This was the usual method of healing in investigated, accompanied by the study of most part of the world1. their antimicrobial activity. Nutritive value of plant has its A. zerumbet A. zerumbet Rhizome own importance. Carbohydrates, fats and proteins form the major portion of the diet, while minerals and vitamins form comparatively a smaller but never a less important part2. The use and importance of Ginger is well Alpinia calcarata A. calcarata Rhizome Kaempferia galanga K. galanga Rhizome Vol 8(5) September-October 2009 507 Research Paper The plant Alpinia officinarum medicine, the rhizomes are used in and Southern India for its white flowers11. Hance (Lesser galangal) known as rheumatism and catarrhal affections, Rhizome decoction of it was traditionally Chhota kolonjana in Hindi is a native especially in bronchial catarrh and in used against inflammation, but now-a- of China but now cultivated in India in respiratory troubles of children. days the herb is accredited with the plains of West Bengal, Assam and Antitumour principles from rhizome antitubercular properties and found good Eastern Himalayas. Its rhizomes furnish have been reported12. Gastric antisecretory, in rheumatism, stomach disorder, the drug known as the lesser galangal, antiulcer and cytoprotective properties of bronchial catarrh and is a good tonic and much used in indigenous medicine as an ethanolic extract of A. galanga in stimulant20. Antinociceptive activities of aromatic stimulant and carminative. rats have also been reported13. Ohigashi14 aqueous and ethanolic extracts of A. officinarum has been used both in has designated this plant among rhizomes in rats have been reported21 in a Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine since very promising cancer preventing dietary Sri Lankan sample. Recently the effect of early times (c. AD 500 in China), and in plants. aqueous extract of A. calcarata Europe since the Middle Ages3. The Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) rhizomes on reproductive competence of rhizome is reported to be a very effective Burtt & R M Smith [syn. A. speciosa male rats has been investigated by herb that acts mainly on the digestive (Wendl.) K. Schum., Costus zerumbet Ratnasooriya et al22. system, also relieves pain, lowers fevers Pers. and Zerumbet speciosum Wendl. Kaempferia galanga Linn. and controls bacterial and fungal p.p.] the Light galangal, known as known as Chandramula in Hindi, is a infections3. It is given to young children Chatiun in Hindi is a handsome herb, small handsome herb found throughout to make them talk early. Fourteen occurring in the Eastern Himalayas from the plains of India and cultivated for flavonoids of rhizoma galangae have West Bengal eastwards and frequently ornament and for its aromatic rhizome. been reported4, followed by the cultivated in gardens for its foliage and The rhizomes are considered stimulating, establishment of antifungal activity of the showy flowers11, 15. Whole plant is fragrant expectorant, carminative and diuretic. flavonoids5. Components present in the like the cardamom. The rhizomes are They are used in the preparation of gargles. rhizomes are found to be antihepatotoxic6, useful in rheumatism and catarrhal In Philippines, a decoction of the rhizome chemopreventive agent7 and afflictions. In afflictions of the is used for dyspepsia, headache and dermatophytoses8. Growth inhibiting effect gastrointestinal tract, the drug can be used malaria11. Cytotoxic principles in of essential oil from rhizome on human like other volatile oils16. The rhizomes K. galanga have been isolated23. intestinal bacteria is reported9. Some exhibit antiulcer activity17. The Rhizomes Ethanolic extract of the plant in vivo antioxidative components from rhizomes contain 5,6-dehydrokawain and dihydro shows hypolipidemic action24. Recently are also isolated and characterised10. 5,6-dehydrokawain reported to inhibit the the vasorelaxant effect of compound from Alpinia galanga Willd. aggregation of ATP release from rabbit the plant on smooth muscles of the rat (Greater galangal) known as Bara platelets induced by arachidonic acid and aorta has been reported followed by its kulanjan in Hindi is a native of Indonesia collagen18. Very recently the presence of bioassay-guided isolation25. Very recently, but has now become naturalized in many phenolic compounds in rhizomes has been a detailed study of the two species Rajani parts of India mainly in the Eastern reported and their use as a source for and Kasthuri of this plant has been Himalayas and South-West India. Raw natural antioxidant in tea preparations or published26. rhizome is a popular ingredient in many in food products such as meat, dairy and A study of nutritive values of the Indonesian and Malaysian dishes for its bakery has been suggested19. plants is likely to prove quite useful, Ginger-like flavour3. The plant is reported Alpinia calcarata Rosc. particularly if supported by antimicrobial to improve sexual attributes in male mice; (syn. A. bracteata Rosc., Renealmia activities. In view of the developing it causes a significant gain in the weight calcarata Haw) is known as Toroni in awareness towards importance of of sexual organs and increases sperm Oriya and Kattchenu in Malyalam15. It balanced presence of various biologically motility and sperm count11. In indigenous is often cultivated in gardens in Eastern important metals in our body, a study 508 Natural Product Radiance Research Paper towards the presence of such metals is dissolved in 100 ml of 5% HCl to obtain paper. After boiling with petrol, the also conducted for these plants in the the solution ready for determination of residual petrol was filtered using Whatman present work. mineral elements through Atomic no. 40 filter paper and the filtrate was Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). Standard evaporated in a preweighed beaker. Materials and Methods solution of each element was prepared and Increase in weight of beaker gave crude Authenticated rhizomes of calibration curves were drawn for each, fat29. A. officinarum were procured from using (Elmer Trans-3100) AAS. Crude protein was determined Kolkata whereas rhizomes of A. galanga using micro Kjeldahl method. One gram and A. zerumbet were purchased from Analyses of materials for nutritive oven dried material was placed in the Dehra Dun. The rhizomes of A. calcarata value digestion flask, 10 g of powdered were procured from Pantnagar, while those For determination of nutritive potassium sulphate, 0.5 g of copper of K. galanga were procured from value, the following parameters were sulphate and 25 ml of conc. sulphuric Central Plantation Crops Institute, Kerala, studied by using the crushed plant acid were added to it and digestion the authenticity further verified at Forest material. conducted by placing the flask in an Research Institute, Dehra Dun. Specimen Determination of ash content was inclined position and heating it below the of materials have been deposited in the carried out by weighing 5.0 g of sample boiling point of acid for about 5-15 Herbarium of Plant Medicine Section of in each case in a silica crucible which minutes. The temperature was raised until the Chemistry Department of Gurukula had previously been heated to about 600oC the acid boiled briskly. A funnel was placed Kangri University under registry nos. and cooled. The crucible was heated first in the mouth of the flask to restrict the 12/15, 11/15, 17/15, 19/15 and 15/15, over a low flame till all the material was circulation of air. Heating was continued respectively and are available for completely charred, followed by heating till the solution became clear. The inspection. Plant materials were washed in a muffle furnace for about 3-5 h at contents were cooled and diluted by with lukewarm deionised water and dried 600oC. It was cooled in a desiccator and adding 200 ml of water.