GC-MS ANALYSIS AND BIOACTIVE PROPERTIES OF ZINGIBERIS RHIZOMA ESSENTIAL OIL

Ginger (Zingiber officinalis Roscoe) has been, from the past until now, one of the most worldwide cultivated aromatic plants. The fresh or dried underground ginger rhizome is used in medicinal purposes, which the European Pharmacopoeia presents as Zingiberis rhizoma. The essential oil obtained from ginger, available on the Romanian market, was prepared using the official method with the Neo-Clevenger apparatus. The amount of 1.925% (v/m) +/- 0.049 was extracted, which is in accordance with the reference standards of the European Pharmacopoeia. The GC-MS analysis of essential oil composition revealed the presence of camphene (32.79%), eucalyptol (24.32%), alpha-pinene (18.05 %) and zingiberene (1.25%). Ginger essential oil has antioxidant properties with an IC50 value of 30.72 mu L/mL in different acetone dilutions. The antifungal properties highlighted on isolated stems from public spaces (Fonsecaea sp. and Penicillium chrysogenum) may justify the use of ginger essential oil as an agent that prevents the exposure of the population to pathogens.