Phytochemical Profiling and Optimized In Vitro Propagation of Mango Ginger (Curcuma amada): Implications for Conservation and Commercial Utilization

Mango ginger (Curcuma amada Roxb.) is valued for its mango-like aroma and bioactive compounds with therapeutic and industrial applications, but lacks comprehensive biochemical profiling and optimized propagation protocols despite its traditional medicinal use. This study investigated fifteen C. amada genotypes for their biochemical composition and established an optimized in vitro propagation method. Biochemical assays revealed genotype-specific variation in protein (1.206–2.29 mg/100 mg), glycine (1.78–5.53 mg/1000 mg), and phenolic contents (27.54–51.90 mg GAE/100 g). HPTLC analysis showed that curcumin content ranged from 0.17% (Indira Mango Ginger) to 3.95% (NVMG-10), while FTIR spectra confirmed the presence of diverse functional groups such as alcohols, alkanes, amines, and aldehydes across genotypes. Principal component analysis revealed that PC1 (35.45%) and PC2 (33.13%) explained most of the variance, and genotypes clustered into four distinct groups. In vitro propagation from rhizome buds was successfully achieved using Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium enriched with BAP and IBA, with NVMG-10 demonstrating superior regenerative response and high curcumin yield. The study emphasizes the commercial potential of mango ginger through integrative phytochemical and tissue culture approaches, paving the way for its sustainable utilization in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmetic industries.