Phytochemical Screening of Ginger (Zingiber officinale), a Medicinal Plant

Ginger has potent values as a medicinal plant which originated from China and India. Currently there is a renewed interest in ginger because of its various active pharmacological ingredients including gingerols, beta-carotene, capsaicin, caffeic acid, curcumin, and salicylate making it a potential source of research to use as a drug. The present study was aimed at extraction of ginger root extract in acetone and methanol solvents by Soxhlet extraction method, screening of phytochemical constituents of ginger extract in acetone and methanol and evaluation of its antimicrobial activity against known pathogenic microorganism. The qualitative analysis of phytochemicals revealed the presence of saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, and steroids in the extracts of ginger. Results of antimicrobial activity showed that ginger in acetone was having highest activity against Escherichia coli MTCC 334 with 24 mm of clear zone and lowest activity with ginger in methanol against Bacillus subtilis MTCC 441 with 10 mm of clear zone.