Abstract:Essential oil, extracted from the rhizomes of ginger, was analysed by GC-MS. Thirty-five, 36 and 44 constituents were identified respectively from the methanol, ethyl acetate and hexane extracts. Principal constituents detected in the three extracts were terpenes, but the composition and contents of the terpenes were different. The contents of total terpenes and sesquiterpenes increased with increasing polarity of the solvents used for extraction, but the content of monoterpenes decreased. The contents of unsaturated sesquiterpenes with antioxidant activity increased with increasing polarity of extracting solvents．It is shown that the antioxidant activity of ginger extracts increases with increasing polarity of solvents used for extraction．
