Phytochemicals and Biological Activities of Zingiber Zerumbet (L.) Smith.

Zingiber zerumbet is one of the species belongs to the genus of Zingiber in the Zingiberaceace family. The phytochemicals of the crude extracts from the rhizome of Zingiber zerumbet were isolated and its biological activities were evaluated. Tyrosinase and acetylcholinesterase inhibition activities were screened on crude extracts and isolated compounds of the rhizome of Z. zerumbet. Phytochemical studies on the rhizome of Z. zerumbet have resulted in the isolation of two sesquiterpenoids. Their structures were determined as zerumbone (1) and α-humulene (2) by spectroscopic methods. All isolates were evaluated for the first time for antityrosinase and antiacetylcholinesterase activities. Antityrosinase activity of the samples was determined against mushroom tyrosinase using microplate reader. Zerumbone (1) and α-humulene (2) exhibited an excellent inhibitory activity against mushroom tyrosinase comparable to the standard kojic acid with 83% and 90% inhibition, respectively. Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), tested by Ellman’s method showed zerumbone (1) was active agents with percentage inhibition of 87%.