Antioxidant Activity of Ethanol Extracts from Red Ginger (Zingiber officinale R) and Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)
Muhamad Nurel Galbi 1, Tryando Bhatara 2, Noormartany 3, Lelly Yuniarti 4

Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Islam Bandung, Indonesia
Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Islam Bandung, Indonesia
Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Islam Bandung, Indonesia
Department of Biochemistry, Nutrition, and Biomolecular, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Islam Bandung, Indonesia

Abstract

Red ginger (Zingiber officinale R) and lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) are widely utilized as beverages, culinary spices, and traditional medicinal agents due to their distinctive flavor and aroma profiles. Both plants contain a range of bioactive compounds, including volatile constituents such as sesquiterpenes and monoterpenoids, as well as non-volatile compounds including gingerol, shogaol, zingerone, and paradol. These compounds are recognized for their potential health benefits, particularly their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
The objective of the present study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity of ethanol extracts derived from red ginger and lemongrass. The extracts were prepared using a maceration method with 95% ethanol. The antioxidant activity was assessed using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, which measures the capacity to scavenge free radicals. Absorbance readings were obtained via spectrophotometry, employing ascorbic acid as a standard reference.
The findings revealed that the red ginger extract exhibited an antioxidant capacity of 46.28 ppm, while the lemongrass extract demonstrated a capacity of 154.07 ppm. The results indicate that the ethanol extract of red ginger possesses very strong antioxidant properties, in contrast to lemongrass, which exhibited comparatively weaker antioxidant activity. These results underscore the potential of red ginger as a significant source of natural antioxidants, warranting further investigation into its health-promoting properties.

Keywords: antioxidant, DPPH, red ginger, lemongrass

Topic: Herbal Medicine