Phytochemicals and antioxidant potential of ginger (Zingiber officinale) and garlic (Allium sativum) extracts

Matured fresh root of Ginger (Zingiber officinale R.) and bulb of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) and their binary mixture were evaluated for phytochemicals and antioxidant potential using standard methods. The results of preliminary phytochemical screening of aqueous and ethanol extract of Ginger and Garlic showed the presence of some phytochemicals such as tannin, saponin, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids and glycosides at various levels. The antioxidant activities of aqueous and ethanol extracts of ginger and garlic showed a total phenolic content mg/g of Ginger (6.432 and 14.176) Garlic (7.172 and 2.146), DPPH content Ginger (58.817 and 86.915) % Garlic (37.582 and 26.451), OH radicals ginger (85.358 and 87.694) garlic (83.956 and 79.751), Fe2+ chelation of ginger (4.584 and 43.444) garlic (7.961 and 53.984), NO radicals of ginger (74.894 and 12.658) garlic (58.966 and 86.392). However the antioxidant contents of the binary mixture of both aqueous and ethanol extracts of ginger and garlic (70:30) showed increased in all antioxidant properties. These implies that both aqueous and ethanol extracts of ginger and garlic possessed good phytochemicals and antioxidant potential which indicates that consumption of these two spices either separately or as a mixture could be encouraged especially for those suffering from any form of cardiovascular diseases.