Turmeric (<em>Curcuma longa</em>) belongs to the family <em>Zingiberaceae</em> and has long been used traditionally for centuries as a spice and medicinal elixir. Hence, the present study aimed...Turmeric (<em>Curcuma longa</em>) belongs to the family <em>Zingiberaceae</em> and has long been used traditionally for centuries as a spice and medicinal elixir. Hence, the present study aimed to profile the nutritional and phytomedicinal properties of the plant in order to justify its relevance in traditional phytomedicine and advocate its application in novel pharmacological products. Using standard methods (High Performance Liquid Chromatography, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry), the dried rhizomes were washed, pulverized and ethanol extracts subjected to proximate, phytochemical, vitamins, amino acid and mineral determinations. Data obtained were analyzed using student’s t-test in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 21. Determined proximate indices indicated moisture content of 9.55%, carbohydrate (57.30%), ash (24.70%), crude fiber (1.12%), proteins (2.15%) and fat (5.32%). Mineral composition analyses showed that <em>C. longa</em> rhizomes had higher contents of calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium in parts per million (ppm) at 38.68 ± 0.114, 19.75 ± 0.001, 9.20 ± 0.002 and 7.06 ± 0.014 respectively. Amino acid profile revealed the presence of both essential and non-essential types with aspartate and glutamate in higher contents at 9.78 g/100 g and 9.65 g/100 g, respectively. Findings showed also the presence of vitamins A, C and D at 254.5 ± 2.19 mg/kg, 19.47 ± 0.16 mg/kg and 10.92 ± 0.92 mg/kg, respectively. Phytochemical analyses showed the presence of phenolic compounds with high retention times. This study thus revealed that <em>C. longa</em> possesses various nutritional and pharmacological/medicinal components in considerable quantities and can provide the body with basic nutrients for its therapeutic needs as well as secondary compounds with tremendous phytomedicinal potentials.展开更多
文摘Turmeric (<em>Curcuma longa</em>) belongs to the family <em>Zingiberaceae</em> and has long been used traditionally for centuries as a spice and medicinal elixir. Hence, the present study aimed to profile the nutritional and phytomedicinal properties of the plant in order to justify its relevance in traditional phytomedicine and advocate its application in novel pharmacological products. Using standard methods (High Performance Liquid Chromatography, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry), the dried rhizomes were washed, pulverized and ethanol extracts subjected to proximate, phytochemical, vitamins, amino acid and mineral determinations. Data obtained were analyzed using student’s t-test in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 21. Determined proximate indices indicated moisture content of 9.55%, carbohydrate (57.30%), ash (24.70%), crude fiber (1.12%), proteins (2.15%) and fat (5.32%). Mineral composition analyses showed that <em>C. longa</em> rhizomes had higher contents of calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium in parts per million (ppm) at 38.68 ± 0.114, 19.75 ± 0.001, 9.20 ± 0.002 and 7.06 ± 0.014 respectively. Amino acid profile revealed the presence of both essential and non-essential types with aspartate and glutamate in higher contents at 9.78 g/100 g and 9.65 g/100 g, respectively. Findings showed also the presence of vitamins A, C and D at 254.5 ± 2.19 mg/kg, 19.47 ± 0.16 mg/kg and 10.92 ± 0.92 mg/kg, respectively. Phytochemical analyses showed the presence of phenolic compounds with high retention times. This study thus revealed that <em>C. longa</em> possesses various nutritional and pharmacological/medicinal components in considerable quantities and can provide the body with basic nutrients for its therapeutic needs as well as secondary compounds with tremendous phytomedicinal potentials.
