Assessment of Proximate Composition, Minerals status and Phytochemical Constituents of Hedychium spicatum (Zingiberaceae)

Hedychium spicatum Buch-Ham ex Smith (Family Zingiberaceae) is one of the most important aromatic and medicinal plant, commonly known as Kapoor Kachri, Ban-Haldi or Spiked Ginger lily. Fresh and mature rhizomes of H. spicatumwere collected from Different areas of Himachal Pradesh and were analysed for proximate composition, minerals and phytochemical constituents by following standard procedure. Significant variation was observed in the moisture content (7.34 to 8.40 per cent), crude protein (27.45 to 30.73 per cent), crude fat content (3.9 to 4.5 per cent), ash (6.5 to 7.6 per cent), crude fibre (7.75 to 8.65 per cent) and carbohydrate content (40.65 to 45.36 per cent). The mineral content in ppm showed high variation i.e. magnesium, copper, iron, zinc, manganese, calcium, phosphorus and potassium which ranged from 1716–8617, 12.6–44.4, 402.5–747.1, 78.2–275.5, 258.3–1040, 8440–9290, 1500–3100 and 14450–30300, respectively. Phytochemical constituents showed considerable variation in the antioxidant activity (44.99–61.28 μg/ml), total phenols (2.29–3.88 mg/g), flavonoids (33.47–35.83 mg/g), PPO activity (0.007–0.024 ΔO.D/min), total carotenoids (104.13–123.76 μg/100 ml), lycopene (9.48–13.60 μg/100 ml) and ascorbic acid (3.74–5.89 mg/100g), respectively.