EFFECT OF GAMMA-IRRADIATION ON THE VOLATILE OIL CONSTITUENTS OF FRESHGINGER (ZINGIBER-OFFICINALE) RHIZOME

Volatile essential oils of fresh ginger rhizomes gamma irradiated (60 Gy) for sprout inhibition and non-irradiated control rhizomes were iso lated by simultaneous distillation-extraction technique. Major compoun ds present in these oils were identified by GLC and GC/MS analysis. Zi ngiberin, beta-sesquiphellandrene and ar-curcumene were the major comp ounds identified with zingiberin accounting for 40% of the essential o il. gamma-irradiation at a dose of 60 Gy did not bring about any detec table qualitative and quantitative changes in the aroma constituents o f the spice immediately after irradiation. (C) 1997 Canadian Institute of Food Science and Technology. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.