PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND IN-VITRO ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF GINGER EXTRACT ENCAPSULATED IN CHITOSAN HYDROGEL

Abstract

Medicinal plants have attracted scientific interest because they contain phytochemicals that show antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and chemoprotective properties. Ginger, the rhizome of Zingiber officinale, is widely consumed as a culinary spice and valued in traditional medicine. This study investigated the phytochemical composition and in vitro antioxidant activity of methanol ginger extracts (Zingiber officinale) and evaluated how encapsulation in a chitosan hydrogel influences its antioxidant performance. Fresh ginger rhizomes were cleaned, dried, pulverized, and extracted with methanol before encapsulation using a chitosan hydrogel prepared with glycerin, acetic acid, and sodium hydroxide. Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH and FRAP assays. Qualitative phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, steroids, glycosides, and saponin glycosides. Quantitative assays showed high levels of alkaloids (233 mg/g) and saponins (216 mg/g), confirming that ginger is rich in bioactive compounds associated with antioxidant activity. The result of DPPH at 20mg/ml of loaded chitosan hydrogel and ginger extract were significantly higher when compared with ascorbic acid. Furthermore, at higher concentration 2.0mg/ml The Ferric reducing power of ginger extract was significantly higher compared to loaded chitosan hydrogel and naive groups. Overall, the results suggest that chitosan loaded with ginger extract is a promoted strategy as phytochemical delivery system.