LAUSR

Abstract Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Roscoe ex Sm. (Zingiberaceae), commonly known as bitter ginger, has long been used in traditional herbal medicine for the treatments of inflammations, rheumatism, sprains, colic pain, diarrhea, tonsillitis and various other ailments. The aim of the present study was to assess the chemical composition of the rhizome essential oil of Zingiber zerumbet grown in the foothills of northern India using GC-FID, GC–MS, IR and NMR, and to evaluate the antibacterial and antiproliferative potential of the rhizome essential oil and its major constituent. Altogether, thirty-four constituents were identified representing 98.0% of the essential oil composition. Zerumbone (72.86%), α-humulene (7.09%), camphene (5.04%), humulene oxide I (2.45%), humulene oxide II (1.8%), and camphor (1.41%) were the major constituents. The potential of the rhizome essential oil of Z. zerumbet and zerumbone was tested against nine pathogenic bacterial strains. The results showed that both essential oil and zerumbone, possessed significant antagonist activity against Staphylococcus aureus-96 (MIC: 52.0–166.6 μg/mL), Streptococcus mutans (MIC: 62.5–208.0 μg/mL), and Escherichia coli (MIC: 104.1–208.0 μg/mL). Zerumbone was found more active compared to the essential oil. Moreover, the antiproliferative potential of Z. zerumbet oil and zerumbone was evaluated against various human cancer and normal cell lines (A549, MDAMB-231, A431, K562, WRL-68, COLO-205, HaCaT, and HEK-293). Results showed that, both essential oil and zerumbone possessed antiproliferative activity against tested cell lines, where zerumbone was more competent then essential oil.