Phytochemical Screening and Antioxidant Activity of the Non-Oil Acetone Fraction of Red Ginger (Zingiber officinale var. rubrum) Rhizome Using the DPPH Assay
Abstract
The growing interest in natural antioxidants has encouraged the exploration of plant-derived bioactive compounds as potential agents for mitigating oxidative stress-related disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant activity of a non-oil acetone fraction of red ginger (Zingiber officinale var. rubrum) rhizome and to identify its major phytochemical constituents through preliminary screening. The non-oil acetone fraction was obtained after removal of n-hexane-soluble components from the crude acetone extract. The fraction was subjected to qualitative phytochemical analysis and antioxidant evaluation using the DPPH radical scavenging assay. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, and alkaloids. The fraction exhibited concentration-dependent radical scavenging activity with an IC₅₀ value of 43.61 ppm, indicating very strong antioxidant activity according to commonly used IC₅₀-based classifications. These findings suggest that the non-oil acetone fraction of red ginger represents a potential natural antioxidant source and provide a basis for further studies involving quantitative phytochemical analysis and characterization of active compounds.
Downloads
References
S. Anwar, H. O. A. Alharbi, A. Y. Babiker, and A. H. Rahmani, “Oxidative Stress in Health and Disease: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Perspectives,” Int. J. Mol. Sci., vol. 27, no. 6, pp. 1–56, 2026, doi: 10.3390/ijms27062681.
S. Ibrahim, A. Hashim, A. El Said, and T. Hamouda, “Utilization of plant derived natural antioxidants and nanofiber mats to improve oxidative stability and extend food shelf life,” Discover Food, vol. 6, no. 1, 2026, doi: 10.1007/s44187-026-00816-0.
F. Ayustaningwarno, G. Anjani, A. M. Ayu, and V. Fogliano, “A critical review of Ginger’s (Zingiber officinale) antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities,” Front. Nutr., vol. 11, no. June, pp. 1–16, 2024, doi: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1364836.
L. Plana et al., “Characterization, Antioxidant Capacity, and In Vitro Bioaccessibility of Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) in Different Pharmaceutical Formulations,” Antioxidants, vol. 14, no. 7, pp. 1–19, 2025, doi: 10.3390/antiox14070873.
A. M. A. Ali, M. E. A. M. El-Nour, and S. M. Yagi, “Total phenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) rhizome, callus and callus treated with some elicitors,” Journal of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 677–682, 2018, doi: 10.1016/j.jgeb.2018.03.003.
J. Lim, K. Kim, D. Y. Kwon, J. K. Kim, R. Sathasivam, and S. U. Park, “Effects of Different Solvents on the Extraction of Phenolic and Flavonoid Compounds, and Antioxidant Activities, in Scutellaria baicalensis Hairy Roots,” Horticulturae, vol. 10, no. 2, 2024, doi: 10.3390/horticulturae10020160.
N. I. Hanifa, D. G. Wirasisya, A. E. Muliani, S. B. Utami, and A. L. Sunarwidhi, “Phytochemical Screening of Decoction and Ethanolic Extract of Amomum dealbatum Roxb. Leaves,” Jurnal Biologi Tropis, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 510–518, 2021, doi: 10.29303/jbt.v21i2.2758.
G. W. Moges, G. M. Manahelohe, M. A. Assege, and A. T. Wodajo, “Phytochemical investigation, in vitro antioxidant, antibacterial activities of the leaf and fruit extracts of Hypericum revolutum Vahl (Amija), and essential oil composition of the leaf extract,” BMC Complement. Med. Ther., vol. 25, no. 1, 2025, doi: 10.1186/s12906-025-05134-z.
H. Mechqoq et al., “Phytochemical Screening, and In Vitro Evaluation of the Antioxidant and Dermocosmetic Activities of Four Moroccan Plants: Halimium antiatlanticum, Adenocarpus artemisiifolius, Pistacia lentiscus and Leonotis nepetifolia,” Cosmetics, vol. 9, no. 5, pp. 1–15, 2022, doi: 10.3390/cosmetics9050094.
K. Godlewska, P. Pacyga, A. Najda, and I. Michalak, “Investigation of Chemical Constituents and Antioxidant Activity of Biologically Active Plant-Derived Natural Products,” Molecules, vol. 28, no. 14, pp. 1–77, 2023, doi: 10.3390/molecules28145572.
S. Adusei, J. K. Otchere, P. Oteng, R. Q. Mensah, and E. Tei-Mensah, “Phytochemical analysis, antioxidant and metal chelating capacity of Tetrapleura tetraptera,” Heliyon, vol. 5, no. 11, p. e02762, 2019, doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02762.
S. Rai, E. Acharya-Siwakoti, A. Kafle, H. P. Devkota, and A. Bhattarai, “Plant-Derived Saponins: A Review of Their Surfactant Properties and Applications,” Sci, vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 1–19, 2021, doi: 10.3390/sci3040044.
İ. Gulcin and S. H. Alwasel, “DPPH Radical Scavenging Assay,” Processes, vol. 11, no. 8, 2023, doi: 10.3390/pr11082248.
Y. D. Lestari, S. Permatasari, and A. Oktasari, “Antioxidant Activity Testing of Extract Kweni Peel (Mangifera odorata Griff),” Indonesian Journal of Chemistry and Environment, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 11–20, 2021, doi: 10.21831/ijce.v3i2.43508
Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Science and Applicative Technology
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
All the content on Journal of Science and Applicative Technology (JSAT) may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
You are free to:
- Share - copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
- Adapt - remix, transform, and build upon the material
Under the following terms:
- Attribution - You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- NonCommercial - You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
- No additional restrictions - You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
