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. 2025 Mar;36(1):163-186.
doi: 10.21315/tlsr2025.36.1.9. Epub 2025 Mar 30.

Antibacterial Potential and Phytochemical Composition in Subcritical Water Extraction of Lempoyang (Zingiber zerumbet)

Nurul 'Uyun Ahmad  1   2 , Mariam Firdhaus Mad Nordin  2 , Norrashidah Mokhtar  3 , Tan Ka Liong  4 , Izzati Mohamad Abdul Wahab  2 , Muhamad Ali Muhammad Yuzir  2 , Mardawani Mohamad  5
Affiliations

Antibacterial Potential and Phytochemical Composition in Subcritical Water Extraction of Lempoyang (Zingiber zerumbet)

Nurul 'Uyun Ahmad et al. Trop Life Sci Res. 2025 Mar.

Abstract
in English, French

Lempoyang, scientifically known as Zingiber zerumbet, is a plant rich in potential medicinal properties due to its numerous active ingredients. The aim of this study was to investigate the phytochemical composition and antibacterial potential of crude extracts of lempoyang obtained by subcritical water extraction (SWE). Fresh rhizomes of lempoyang were extracted using the one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) approach with different extraction times (5 min, 10 min, 15 min, 20 min and 25 min), while other extraction parameters were kept constant. The resulting crude extracts, characterised by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS), contained 13 different constituents. Among these, 2,6,10-cycloundecatrien-1-one,2,6,9,9-tetramethyl-,(E,E,E)- or zerumbone consistently had the highest percentage area under the peak across all extraction times, ranging from 17.15% to 28.72% at retention times of 19.215 min to 19.270 min. Qualitative screening of these crude extracts revealed the presence of phenolics, alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins and tannins, indicating the rich phytochemical diversity of lempoyang. However, steroids and anthocyanins have not been detected. In terms of antibacterial activity, disc diffusion using the Kirby-Bauer method showed positive results for the 25-minute crude extract against Escherichia coli, yielding a zone of inhibition of 8.63 ± 0.36 mm at a concentration of 100 mg/mL/disc. None of the extracts were found to have detectable antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella choleraesuis and Serratia marcescens. These results emphasise the potential of SWE for extracting valuable compounds from fresh lempoyang rhizomes. At the same time, they highlight that different extraction times influence the phytochemical profile and antibacterial activity of the crude extracts at higher extract concentrations.

Lempoyang, yang dikenali secara saintifik sebagai Zingiber zerumbet, merupakan tumbuhan yang kaya dengan potensi sifat perubatan disebabkan oleh pelbagai bahan aktifnya. Tujuan kajian ini adalah untuk menyiasat komposisi fitokimia dan potensi antibakteria ekstrak lempoyang segar yang diperolehi melalui pengekstrakan air subgenting (SWE). Rizom segar lempoyang diekstrak menggunakan pendekatan satu faktor pada satu-satu masa (OFAT) dengan pelbagai masa pengekstrakan (5 min, 10 min, 15 min, 20 min dan 25 min) sementara parameter pengekstrakan lain dikekalkan. Ekstrak mentah yang dihasilkan yang dicirikan oleh gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS) mendedahkan 13 konstituen berbeza. Antara konsituen tersebut, 2,6,10-cycloundecatrien-1-one,2,6,9,9-tetramethyl-,(E,E,E)-, atau zerumbone menunjukkan peratus kawasan tertinggi di bawah puncak pada semua masa pengekstrakan, antara 17.15% hingga 28.72% pada masa penahanan bermula dari 19.215 min hingga 19.270 min. Penyaringan kualitatif ekstrak mentah ini mendedahkan kehadiran fenol, alkaloid, flavonoid, terpenoid, saponin dan tanin, menunjukkan kepelbagaian fitokimia yang kaya dalam lempoyang. Walau bagaimanapun, steroid dan antosianin, tidak dikesan. Dalam konteks aktiviti antibakteria, ujian penyebaran cakera Kirby-Bauer menunjukkan hasil positif bagi 25-minit ekstrak mentah terhadap Escherichia coli, memberikan zon perencatan sebanyak 8.63 ± 0.36 mm pada kepekatan 100 mg/mL/cakera. Walau bagaimanapun, tiada aktiviti antibakteria yang dapat dikesan terhadap Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella choleraesuis dan Serratia marcescens dalam mana-mana ekstrak. Penemuan ini menekankan potensi SWE mengekstrak sebatian berharga daripada rizom lempoyang segar dan pada masa yang sama menunjukkan bahawa masa pengekstrakan yang berbeza mempengaruhi profil fitokimia dan aktiviti antibakteria ekstrak mentah pada kepekatan tinggi.

Keywords: Antibacterial Activity; GCMS; Phytochemical; Subcritical Water Extraction; Zingiber zerumbet.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) Lempoyang rhizome; (b) Cross-section of lempoyang rhizome.
Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) Lempoyang rhizome; (b) Cross-section of lempoyang rhizome.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Filtered methanolic crude extract at different extraction times: (a) 5-minute, (b) 10-minute, (c) 15-minute, (d) 20-minute, and (e) 25-minute.
Figure 3
Figure 3
GCMS chromatograms of crude extracts at different extraction times, emphasising the predominant peaks in the 19.215 min to 19.270 min, indicating zerumbone: (a) 5-minute; (b) 10-minute; (c) 15-minute; (d) 20-minute; and (e) 25-minute.
Figure 3
Figure 3
GCMS chromatograms of crude extracts at different extraction times, emphasising the predominant peaks in the 19.215 min to 19.270 min, indicating zerumbone: (a) 5-minute; (b) 10-minute; (c) 15-minute; (d) 20-minute; and (e) 25-minute.
Figure 3
Figure 3
GCMS chromatograms of crude extracts at different extraction times, emphasising the predominant peaks in the 19.215 min to 19.270 min, indicating zerumbone: (a) 5-minute; (b) 10-minute; (c) 15-minute; (d) 20-minute; and (e) 25-minute.
Figure 3
Figure 3
GCMS chromatograms of crude extracts at different extraction times, emphasising the predominant peaks in the 19.215 min to 19.270 min, indicating zerumbone: (a) 5-minute; (b) 10-minute; (c) 15-minute; (d) 20-minute; and (e) 25-minute.
Figure 3
Figure 3
GCMS chromatograms of crude extracts at different extraction times, emphasising the predominant peaks in the 19.215 min to 19.270 min, indicating zerumbone: (a) 5-minute; (b) 10-minute; (c) 15-minute; (d) 20-minute; and (e) 25-minute.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Inhibition zone observations for 100 mg/mL of 25-minute sample against E. coli.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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