Zingiber officianale – Ginger

Zingiber officianale – Ginger

Introduction                                                                                                                                                                                       

Ginger is a tuber that is consumed whole as a delicacy, medicine, or herb. It is the rhizome of the plant Zingiber officinale. It lends its name to its genus and family (Zingiberaceae). Other notable members of this plant family are turmeric, cardamom, and galangal. Ginger cultivation began in South Asia and has since then spread to East Africa and the Caribbean.

It is sometimes called root ginger to distinguish it from other things that share the name ginger. Zingiber officinale (Zingiberaceae) and Pentadiplan-dra brazzeana (Pentadiplandraceae) are highly reputed in African folk medical practices for many purposes.

Z. officinale is used for the treatment of flatulence, colic, diarrhoea, spasm, cold

and influenza. Zingiber officinale is used as an appetite stimulant, a narcotic

antagonist and an anti-inflammatory agent. Recent study showed that it has

antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, anti-hyperglycemic,

anti-hyperlipidemic and anti-emetic actions.

 Main constituents are sesquiterpenoids, with (-)-zingiberene. Sesquiterpene

Lactones (SLs) are natural products responsible for its anti-inflammatory

activity.

All the main ayurvedic texts described ginger extensively and it is one of the

commonly used in the ayurvedic medicine as well as the Sri Lankan traditional

medicine .

Contraindications ;

•  According to the ayurvedic text Bhava prakasha,Consuming ginger is not advisable in diseases like kushta ( skin diseases ), pandu ( anaemia ), mutra kruccha ( dysuria) ,rakta pitta (bleeding diseases ) , vrna (ulcers) ,jwara (fever) ,daha ( burning sensation ) and during summer and autmn seasons .

•  The German Commission E states contraindication of Ginger in Pregnancy. There are no reports of adverse effects due to ginger use during pregnancy, and clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of ginger extracts in relieving the nausea and emesis of pregnancy

Actions on various systems ;

Externally 

• Ginger inhibits the production of immune-system components called cytokines These chemicals are believed to create a long-term tendency toward inflammation

• Study demonstrates that daily consumption of raw and heat-treated ginger resulted in moderate-to large reductions in muscle pain following exercise-induced muscle injury.

•  (6)-Shogaol appears to interfere with the arachadonic / inflammatory cascade. It is found to inhibits cyclooxygenases and prevents specific prostaglandin release in rabbits and rats. Ginger may be a stronger inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis than indomethacin. It can be used either for rheumatoid or osteoarthritis.

Internally

Nerveous system

•  (6)-shogaol has produced anti-nociception and inhibited the release of substance P in rats.

Digestive system

•  The components in ginger that are responsible for the antiemetic effect are thought to be the gingerols, shogaols, and galanolactone,

•  There is evidence that ginger rhizome (root) increases stomach acid production. If so, it may interfere with antacids, sucralfate (Carafate), H2 antagonists, or proton pump inhibitors.

•  In contrast, other in vitro and animal studies have revealed gastro protective properties. in addition, (6) shogaol, generally more potent than (6)-gingerol, has inhibited intestinal motility in intravenous preparations and facilitated gastrointestinal motility in oral preparations.

• Ginger extract has also been reported to inhibit the growth of Helicobacter pylori in vitro.

•  a significant increase in the exfoliation of gastric surface epithelial cells following the consumption of 6g or more of ginger could be observed.

Circulatory system

•  Antiplatelet activity - aqueous extract of ginger inhibited platelet aggregation induced by ADP, epinephrine, collagen and arachidonic acid in vitro. Ginger acted by inhibiting thromboxane synthesis. It also inhibited prostacyclin synthesis in rat aorta. The antiplatelet action of 6-gingerol was also mainly due to the inhibition of thromboxane Formation.

• Including in Ayurvedic science, ginger has been described as great heart tonic. It helps in preventing various heart diseases by reducing blood clotting that can lead to plaque formation or thrombosis. It can also open the blockage in the blood vessels thus decreasing peripheral vascular resistance and hence blood pressure.

Other 

•  a study of more than 120 plant foods, published in the Journal of Nutrition. In the report ginger was ranked number one among the five richest food sources of antioxidants. Test-tube and animal researches have shown that ginger inhibits the production of free radicals. Ginger also enhances the body's internal production of antioxidants

•  Anti-cancer effects: The anticancer effects of ginger are thought to be attributed to various constituents including vallinoids, viz. (6)-gingerol and (6)-paradol, shogaols, zingerone, and Galanals A and B.Galanals A and B have been found to be potent apoptosis inducers of human T lymphoma Jurkat cells.

• Lipid Effects ;Oral ingestion of ginger extract has been shown to have hypocholesterolemic, hypolipidemic, and antiatherosclerotic effect.

•  Weight Loss Effects ;Thermogenic ingredients, such as ginger, may be considered as functional agents that could help restore a "positive energy balance" and prevent obesity

• Antimicrobial Activities; Ingenol and shogaol, isolated from ginger rhizome, demonstrated antiviral activity. gingerol has been reported as active inhibitor of M. avium and M. tuberculosis in vitro. Gingerol and related compounds have been investigated for antimicrobial activities. (6) gingerol and [12]-gingerol, isolated from ginger rhizome, demonstrated antibacterial activity against periodontal bacteria.

• Antigenotoxic Activity ; [6]-gingerol proved to be equally effective in reducing genotoxic damage at appropriate doses.
•  Mutagenicity ; A study was performed to discover the active part in mutagenesis of [6]-gingerol and [6]-shogaol. [6]-Shogoal was much less mutagenic than [6]-gingerol

Toxicity

The toxicity of ginger is generally considered to be negligible. Oral LD 50 values in various animals of ginger oil exceed 5 gm/Kg. In vitro microbial assays have shown both mutagenicity and antimutagenicity for compounds isolated from ginger. The adverse reaction profile of ginger is benign, consonant with its use as a common spice and food

Special preparations ;

• In ayurvedic medicine , ardraka khanda , panchasama churna , naagaraadi kashaya , ardraka rasayana etc.

•  In Sri Lankan traditional medicine , ginger used as an adjuvant in Buddharaja kalka

Medicinal applications;

•  Juice of fresh ginger + rock salt ( sahindava lawana ) is use in loss of appetite , indigestion

•  Juice of fresh ginger with sugar can be used for hiccups

•  Juice of fresh ginger with guda ( juggery) in asthma

•  Licking fresh ginger juice with honey relieves hiccup and cold

•  In rheumatic artheritis to relieve the pain and to reduce the inflammation

• fresh ginger juice and Lasia spinosa barks ( kohila pothu)are used

Refferences

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305723299_Pharmacological_activity_of_Zingiber_officinale

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/265990258_Zingiber_officinale_Roscoe_pharmacological_ac

tivity