Abstract The rhizomes of the Zingiberaceae family are a
vegetable widely used in many Asian countries, and their
medicinal functions have been broadly discussed and
accepted in many traditional recipes. In this study, 18 species
of five genus of Zingiberaceae plants from Taiwan area were
collected and analyzed for their functional properties.
Methanolic extracts of the plants were analyzed for their
total phenol compounds, α,α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl
(DPPH) scavenging activity, and reducing power. Antimicrobial
activity of these samples was also determined. The
results showed that the total phenol compounds of the Alpinia
genus averaged 17, 30 mg/g for Curcumas, and the highest,
36.5 mg/g for Vanoverberghia sasakiana. Antioxidant
performances were best observed in Vanoverberghia and
Hedychium, both 89%, and DPPH scavenging activity
followed similar trends. Particularly, Zingiber oligophyllum,
considered as a traditional medicinal plant used in Taiwan
exhibited low DPPH scavenging activity and reducing
power. Most Zingiberaceae plant extracts exhibited antimicrobial
activity against all tested food microorganisms.
Hedychium and Vanoverberghia, did not show antimicrobial
activities on Escherichia coli and Vibrio parahaemolyticus.
This study is a positive demonstration of the utility of
screening Taiwan’s endemic Zingiberaceous plants for their
food and medicinal uses.