Powdered Ginger
DEFINITION
Powdered Ginger is Ginger reduced to a fine or a very fine powder.
IDENTIFICATION
Add the following:
•  A.
Analysis:  To 1 g of the Powdered Ginger add 5 mL of dilute acetic acid, prepared by diluting 1 part of glacial acetic acid with 1 part of water, and shake for 15 min. Filter, and add a few drops of ammonium oxalate TS to the filtrate.
Acceptance criteria:  NMT a slight turbidity is produced.USP35
Add the following:
•  B.
Sample:  50 mg of the residue obtained in the test for Articles of Botanical Origin, Alcohol-Soluble Extractives
Analysis:  Dissolve the Sample in 25 mL of water, and extract this solution with two 15-mL portions of ether. Combine the ether extracts, and evaporate in a porcelain dish. To the residue add 5 mL of sulfuric acid solution (7.5 in 10.0) and 5 mg of vanillin. Allow to stand for 15 min, and add an equal volume of water.
Acceptance criteria:  The solution turns azure blue.USP35
Add the following:
•  C.Thin-Layer Chromatographic Identification Test
Standard solution A:  Proceed as directed for the Sample solution, except to use 0.2 g of USP Powdered Ginger RS.
Standard solution B:  Use the System suitability solution, prepared as directed in the test for Content of Gingerols and Gingerdiones.
Sample solution:  Transfer 0.2 g of Powdered Ginger to a test tube, add 5 mL of methanol, shake for 30 min, and centrifuge. Apply the supernatant to the plate.
Adsorbent:  0.50-mm layer of chromatographic silica gel mixture
Application volume:  20 µL for the Sample solution and Standard solution A; 40 µL for Standard solution B
Developing solvent system:  Ether and hexanes (7:3)
Spray reagent:  10% sulfuric acid in alcohol
Analysis 
Samples:  Standard solution A, Standard solution B, and Sample solution
Proceed as directed in the chapter. Examine the plate under UV light at 254 nm. Spray the plate with Spray reagent, heat at 100–105 for 10 min, and examine under daylight.
Acceptance criteria:  The chromatogram of the Sample solution exhibits a spot due to gingerols that occurs at an RF value of 0.2. A spot of shogaols may occur at an RF value of 0.4, corresponding to those shown in the chromatogram of Standard solution B. [Note—The chromatograms of the Sample solution and Standard solution A may exhibit other spots in the upper region and at the origin of the plate. ] USP35
COMPOSITION
•  Content of Gingerols and Gingerdiones
Solution A:  Acetonitrile, dilute phosphoric acid (1 in 1000), and methanol (55:44:1)
Solution B:  Acetonitrile
Mobile phase:  Use Solution A for NLT seven times the retention time of capsaicin.
Column washing:  After each chromatographic run, wash the column, using Table 1.
Table 1
Time
(min)
Solution A
(%)
Solution B
(%)
0 100 0
2 0 100
12 0 100
14 100 0
29 100 0
Standard solution:  0.1 mg/mL of USP Capsaicin RS in methanol
System suitability solution:  Reconstitute the content of 1 vial of USP Ginger Constituent Mixture RS in 1 mL of the Standard solution.
Sample solution:  Use the filtrate retained from the test for Articles of Botanical Origin, Alcohol-Soluble Extractives.
Chromatographic system 
Mode:  LC
Detector:  UV 282 nm
Column:  4.6-mm × 25-cm; packing L1
Flow rate:  1 mL/min
Injection size:  25 µL
System suitability 
Samples:  Standard solution and System suitability solution
[Note—The relative retention times for 6-gingerol, capsaicin, and 6-shogaol are about 0.8, 1.0, and 1.9, respectively, System suitability solution. ]
Suitability requirements 
Resolution:  NLT 3.0 between the 6-gingerol and capsaicin peaks and NLT 10.0 between the capsaicin and 6-shogaol peaks, System suitability solution
Tailing factors:  NMT 2.0 for the 6-gingerol, capsaicin, and 6-shogaol peaks, System suitability solution
Relative standard deviation:  NMT 2.5%, Standard solution
Analysis 
Samples:  Standard solution, Sample solution, and System suitability solution
Calculate the sum of the peak responses due to gingerols and gingerdiones, occurring at about the following retention times, relative to 1.0 for capsaicin: 0.8 for 6-gingerol, 1.5 for 8-gingerol A, 2.2 for 8-gingerol B, 2.5 for 6-gingerdiol, 2.6 for 6-gingerdione, 3.4 for 10-gingerol, and 5.2 for 8-gingerdione.
Calculate the percentage of gingerols and gingerdiones in the sample taken:
Result = (rT/rS) × (CS/W) × 10
rT== sum of the peak responses of gingerols and gingerdiones from the Sample solution
rS== peak response of capsaicin from the Standard solution
CS== concentration of USP Capsaicin RS in the Standard solution (mg/mL)
W== weight of Powdered Ginger used in the test for Articles of Botanical Origin, Alcohol-Soluble Extractives (g)
Acceptance criteria:  NLT 0.8%
CONTAMINANTS
•  Heavy Metals 231: NMT 20 ppm
•  Microbial Enumeration Tests 2021: The total bacterial count does not exceed 105 cfu/g; the total combined molds and yeasts count does not exceed 103 cfu/g; the bile-tolerant Gram-negative bacteria count does not exceed 103 cfu/g.
•  Absence of Microorganisms 2022: It meets the requirements of the tests for absence of Salmonella species and Escherichia coli.
SPECIFIC TESTS
•  Botanic Characteristics: Under a microscope, Powdered Ginger reveals mainly starch granules and parenchyma cells containing them; simple, large, flattened, ovoid or sack-shaped starch granules, 5–15 µm wide and 30–60 µm long having an eccentric hilum, some showing faint transverse striations; parenchyma cells containing yellow-brown to dark brown resinous substances; groups of large, thin-walled nonlignified septate fibers with wide lumen; portions of septate fibers with attached vessels; large vessels with annular, spiral, or reticulate thickening and often accompanied by parenchyma cells containing brown content; oleoresin in fragments or droplets, staining with iodine TS and potassium iodide TS; and, rarely, fragments of brown cork tissue, usually seen in surface view. Sclerenchymatous cells, trichomes, and calcium oxalate are absent.
•  Limit of Shogaols
Analysis:  From the chromatograms obtained in the test for Content of Gingerols and Gingerdiones, calculate the sum of the peak responses due to shogaols, occurring at the following retention times, relative to 1.0 for capsaicin: 1.9 for 6-shogaol, 4.2 for 8-shogaol, and 5.8 for 10-shogaol.
Calculate the percentage of shogaols in the portion of Powdered Ginger taken:
Result = (rT/rS) × (CS/W) × 10
rT== sum of the peak responses of shogaols from the Sample solution
rS== peak response of capsaicin from the Standard solution
CS== concentration of USP Capsaicin RS in the Standard solution, prepared as directed in the test for Content of Gingerols and Gingerdiones (mg/mL)
W== weight of Powdered Ginger used in the test for Articles of Botanical Origin, Alcohol-Soluble Extractives (g)
Acceptance criteria:  NMT 0.18%
•  Articles of Botanical Origin, Alcohol-Soluble Extractives, Method 2 561
Analysis:  Collect the filtrate in a 100-mL volumetric flask, and dilute with alcohol to volume. Evaporate 50 mL of the filtrate at a temperature not exceeding 90.
Acceptance criteria:  NLT 4.5% residue. [Note—Save the residue for use in Identification test B, and the remaining volume of the filtrate for the tests for Limit of Shogaols and Content of Gingerols and Gingerdiones. ]
•  Articles of Botanical Origin, Content of Starch, Method 1 561: NLT 42%, Method Ia of the General Procedures being used
Delete the following:
•  Other Requirements: Meets the requirements of the test for Identification under GingerUSP35
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
•  Packaging and Storage: Preserve in well-closed containers, protected from light and moisture, and store in a cool area.
Change to read:
•  Labeling: The label states the Latin binomial and, following the official name, the part of the plant source from which the article was derived. This article is exempted from the requirements of the General Notices with respect to the pregnancy and lactation statement (section 10.40.50, Labeling Botanical-Containing Products).USP35
•  USP Reference Standards 11
USP Capsaicin RS Click to View Structure
USP Ginger Constituent Mixture RS
USP Powdered Ginger RS
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Topic/Question Contact Expert Committee
Monograph Maged H. Sharaf, Ph.D.
Principal Scientific Liaison
1-301-816-8318
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2021 Radhakrishna S Tirumalai, Ph.D.
Principal Scientific Liaison
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2022 Radhakrishna S Tirumalai, Ph.D.
Principal Scientific Liaison
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(GCM2010) General Chapters - Microbiology
Reference Standards RS Technical Services
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USP35–NF30 Page 1319
Pharmacopeial Forum: Volume No. 36(6) Page 1597