Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry Profiling of Bioactive Compounds in Ginger and Lemongrass Essential Oils: Insights into Their Potential Medical Applications

Zingiber officinale (ginger) and Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass) are aromatic plants that are extensively utilized in traditional medicine, recognized for their diverse bioactive compounds with potential therapeutic benefits. This study aimed to characterize the chemical composition of essential oils (EOs) derived from ginger, lemongrass, and their combination; cultivated in West Sumatra, Indonesia; and to evaluate their potential pharmacological activities. EOs were extracted from rhizomes via steam distillation, followed by phytochemical screening and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Ginger EO was predominantly composed of alpha-curcumene, zingiberene, beta-sesquiphellandrene, beta-turmerone, and camphene, compounds associated with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and neuroprotective effects. Lemongrass essential oil contained high levels of citral, along with 2-tetradecyloxirane, (2E,6Z)-2,6-nonadienal, and isoborneol, contributing antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, and wound-healing properties. The combined oils presented a complex phytochemical profile dominated by citral, alpha-curcumene, zingiberene, and beta-bisabolone, suggesting synergistic bioactivities. These findings underscore the potential of ginger.