Format: ORAL

Maria Hazel C. Ubang, Hannah P. Lumista and Noel E. Lagunday, Florfe M. Acma

Plant Biology Division, Institute of Biological Sciences, Central Mindanao University, Musuan, Bukidnon, Philippines

Amomum dealbatumRoxb. is an indigenous wild ginger of the Philippines of which its fruits are eaten by the local people to treat stomach upsets. Its leaf sheaths were also reported to be utilized in making hats and other handicraft products. Despite its uses, no propagation efforts are done by the local people for this species. The study was conducted to determine the quantitative phytochemical components of the fruits and propagateA. dealbatumutilizing indigenous growing media. Phytochemical analyses revealed that the fruits ofA. dealbatumpossess antioxidant property which was determined using the phosphomolybdenum method, while total phenolic content was determined through the folin-ciocalteu method and flavonoids were determined using aluminum chloride colorimetric method. Analyses of the fruits revealed total antioxidant activity (TAA) of 32.66 +- 1.80 mg AAE/g dried sample, total phenolic content (TPC) has a value of 4.33 +- 2.45 mg GAE/g dried sample and total flavonoid content (TFC) of 6.38 +- 81.22 mg QE/g dried sample. In comparison to other other studies, TAA and TFC are relatively higher, while TPC is relatively lower. Thus, the fruit extract ofA. dealbatumcontained flavonoid compounds which are higher in quantity compared with other plants which imply that the fruits ofA. dealbatumpossess high antioxidant potentials which has many benefits for health. Trial propagation of the species using the seeds were also conducted. Boiling the seeds before sowing and covering the pots with plastic improved the chance of the seeds to germinate. T1 (garden soil + rice hull, 1:1) and T2 (garden soil + sawdust, 1:1) are the best growing media which resulted to higher germination and growth rate of young shoots, respectively. Hence,A. dealbatumhas high TAA and TFC and that propagation utilizing the indigenous growing media is feasible.