Phytochemical Profiling and Combinatorial-Optimization of Zingiber officinale, Allium sativum and Curcuma longa Extracts for In-vitro \(Fe²⁺\)-Chelation as Potential Heavy-Metal Detoxifiers

This research investigated the bioactive compounds of Zingiber officinale (ginger), Allium sativum (garlic) and Curcuma longa (turmeric) and the combinatorial capacity of the extracts to chelate ferrous (Fe2+) ions. Phytochemicals were determined using gas chromatography-flame ionization detector and metal chelating capacity was evaluated by the in-vitro ferrous (Fe2+) ions Chelating power. This involved preparation of standardized ginger-garlic-turmeric extract combinations in predetermined ratios to evaluate the in vitro synergistic effects. The phytochemical profile of ginger presented appreciable values for catechin (192.06 μg/mL), kaempferol (61.97 μg/mL) and genistein (39.85 μg/mL) among other. Garlic recorded catechin (145.05 μg/mL), quercetin (101.60 μg/mL) and isorhamnetin (24.52 μg/mL) and genistein (19.25 μg/mL). Turmeric showed kaempferol (29.60 μg/mL), myricetin (18.28 μg/mL), catechin (18.19 μg/mL) and resveratrol (5.25 μg/mL). The chelating power of the different extracts and their combinations on ferrous (Fe2+) ions presented increasing inhibition capacity with rising concentrations across all the groups. The best combinatorial extract for chelating ferrous (Fe²⁺) ions was the 60% Tumeric, 30% Garlic, 10% Ginger, which achieved a maximum inhibition of 84.75% at 80 mg/mL. This combination showed a steady rise in activity across concentrations, starting from 45.39% at 10 mg/mL and progressively peaked at 80 mg/mL. The results showed distinct but overlapping phytochemical profiles of the extracts and their remarkable potential in ameliorating oxidative stress and heavy metal-mediated toxicity in exposed animals.