Phytochemical Characterization of Methanolic Extract of Zingiber officinale using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry: An In-vitro Study

Background: Oral cancer is the sixth most common cancer worldwide and among the third in the Indian Sub-continent.Zingiber officinale Roscoe, commonly known as ginger, is generally used as an accompaniment herb or a food spice.Various in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that ginger is an active compound in both the prevention andtreatment of prostate, breast, ovarian, and colorectal cancers. However, the effects of ginger on oral pre-malignantconditions are still not known.Objectives: To conduct a phytochemical analysis of the methanolic extract of Zingiber officinale by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry [GC-MS] and to identify its potential anti-cancer compounds.Materials and methods: Zingiber officinale Roscoe (100 g) was cleaned, dried, and powdered. A Soxhlet extraction wasperformed using 500 mL of methanol at a temperature of approximately 60°C for 6 hours to investigate variousphytochemical components. The extract was then subjected to GC-MS using the Clarus 680 GC to identify the quantitativeconstituentsResults: Individual compounds were analysed by GC-MS. The primary potent component identified was 6- shagoal at apeak area percentage of 35.91 %, and Zingerone, a phenolic compound with 28.16% of peak area %.Conclusions: The existence of many secondary metabolites in the preliminary and GC-MS analysis of Zingiber officinalejustifies the prevalence of phytochemicals with anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and other properties, like anti-angiogenic,neuroprotective properties.