Journal of Medicinal Plants Research Vol. 6(26), pp.
4255-4258,11 July, 2012
Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/JMPR
DOI: 10.5897/JMPR11.787
ISSN 1996-0875 ©2012 Academic Journals
Review
Ginger (Zingiber officinale): A review
Mohammad Sharrif Moghaddasi1 and Hamed Haddad Kashani2*
1
Department of Agronomy, Islamic Azad University, Saveh Branch, Saveh, Iran.
2
Anatomical Sciences Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
Accepted 3 August, 2011
Ginger is used worldwide as a cooking spice, condiment and herbal remedy. Ginger is used extensively
in Ayurveda, the traditional medicine of India to block excessive clotting (that is, heart disease), reduce
cholesterol and fight arthritis. In Arabian medicine, ginger is considered an aphrodisiac. The Eclectic
physicians of the 19th century relied on ginger to induce sweating, improve the appetite and curb
nausea, and as a topical counterirritant. Nowadays, ginger is extensively cultivated from Asia to Africa
and the Caribbean, and is used worldwide as a nausea remedy, as an anti-spasmodic and to promote
warming in case of chills as presented in this report. Ginger is also extensively consumed as a
flavoring agent; it is estimated that in India, the average daily consumption is 8 to 10 g of fresh ginger
root. Moreover, the German Commission E has approved the use of ginger root as a treatment for
dyspepsia and prophylactic against motion sickness.
Key words: Ginger, Zingiber officinale, traditional usages.
INTRODUCTION
Ginger is primarily used to treat nausea, but it is also some herbalists and the German Commission E to
used as an anti-inflammatory, a pain remedy, a warming recommend that ginger be avoided during pregnancy.
remedy and a cholesterol-lowering herb. Randomized Ginger is used worldwide as a cooking spice,
controlled trials support its use in preventing nausea. condiment and herbal remedy. The Chinese have used
Case studies suggest usefulness in treating migraines ginger for at least 2500 years as a digestive aid and
and inflammatory arthritis, but no randomized trials have antinausea remedy, and to treat bleeding disorders and
been reported. Animal studies suggest thermogenic rheumatism; it was also used to treat baldness,
effects, but this has not been evaluated in humans. toothache, snakebite, and respiratory conditions (Duke
Moreover, data are insufficient to recommend ginger as a and Ayensu, 1985). In Traditional Chinese Medicine
cholesterol-lowering supplement. Given its long history of (TCM), ginger is considered a pungent, dry, warming,
use as a food, ginger is presumed safe for supplemental yang herb to be used for ailments triggered by cold,
use. Due of its effects on platelet aggregation and damp weather. Ginger is used extensively in Ayurveda,
thromboxane synthesis in vitro, some herbalists suggest the traditional medicine of India, to block excessive
caution for patients taking anticoagulants or those clotting (heart disease), reduce cholesterol and fight
scheduled for surgery; on the other hand, no clinically arthritis. In Malaysia and Indonesia, ginger soup is given
significant anticoagulant effects have been documented. to new mothers for 30 days after their delivery to help
It is on the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) list, warm them and to help them sweat out impurities. In
but no studies have specifically evaluated ginger’s safety Arabian medicine, ginger is considered an aphrodisiac
during pregnancy, lactation or during childhood. A related (Qureshi et al., 1989). Some Africans believe that eating
species has uterotonic effects in animals, which has led ginger regularly will help repel mosquitos (Duke and
Ayensu, 1985).
Ginger migrated westward to Europe by Greek and
Roman times. The Greeks wrapped ginger in bread and
*Corresponding author. E-mail: ate it after meals as a digestive aid. Subsequently, ginger
hamedir2010@gmail.com. Tel: 00989137430153. was incorporated directly into bread and confections such
4256 J. Med. Plants Res.
as gingerbread. Ginger was so valued by the Spanish antibacterial effects in vitro and in animals (Mascolo,
that they established ginger plantations in Jamaica in the 1989; Connell, 1970).
1600’s. The Eclectic physicians of the 19th century relied The characteristic odor and flavor of ginger is caused
on ginger to induce sweating, improve the appetite and by a mixture of zingerone, shogaols and gingerols,
curb nausea, and as a topical counterirritant. Nowadays, volatile oils that composed one to 3% of the weight of
ginger is extensively cultivated from Asia to Africa and fresh ginger. In laboratory animals, the gingerols increase
the Caribbean and is used worldwide as a nausea the motility of the gastrointestinal tract and have
remedy, as an anti-spasmodic and to promote warming in analgesic, sedative, antipyretic and antibacterial
case of chills (Kapil et al., 1990; Johri and Zutshi, 1992). properties. Ginger oil has been shown to prevent skin
Ginger is also extensively consumed as a flavoring agent; cancer in mice and a study at the University of Michigan
it is estimated that in India, the average daily demonstrated that gingerols can kill ovarian cancer cells.
consumption is 8 -10 g of fresh ginger root (Murray, [6]-Gingerol (1-[4'-hydroxy-3'-methoxyphenyl]-5-hydroxy-
1995). The German Commission E has also approved 3-decanone) is the major pungent principle of ginger. The
the use of ginger root as a treatment for dyspepsia and chemopreventive potentials of [6]-gingerol present a
prophylactic against motionsickness (Blumenthal, 1998). promising future alternative to expensive and toxic
therapeutic agents. Ginger contains up to 3% of a
fragrant essential oil whose main constituents are
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION sesquiterpenoids, with (-)-zingiberene as the main
component. Smaller amounts of other sesquiterpenoids
Ginger is a species included in the Zingiberaceae family. (β-sesquiphellandrene, bisabolene and farnesene) and a
This family covers up to 24 genus and around 300 small monoterpenoid fraction (β-phelladrene, cineol, and
species. The genus Zingiber has about 20 species as citral) have also been identified. The pungent taste of
well. Ginger plant possesses perennial tuberous or ginger is due to nonvolatile phenylpropanoid-derived
rhizomatous roots. The plant generates an upright, compounds, particularly gingerols and shogaols, which
annual stalk (pseudo-stem), 60 to 90 cm tall, with dark are formed from gingerols when ginger is dried or
green leaves. Its stalks are covered with flat sheaths that cooked. Zingerone is also produced from gingerols during
may be taken off stalk; 8 - 12 distiches leaves are present this process; this compound is less pungent and has a
on the stem. The leaves are with long blades, or flat and spicy-sweet aroma. Ginger is also a minor chemical
stalk less blades; are alternative (alternate), lance late, irritant, and because of this was used as a horse
linear lance late, specula, 10 to 21 cm tall and 2 to 2.5 cm suppository by pre-World War I mounted regiments for
wide. The glomerule singly rises from the stem on a small feaguing. Ginger has a sialagogue action, stimulating the
stalk. Ground clearance of the glomerule is 12 to 30 cm; production of saliva, which makes swallowing easier.
it is shaped as a head surrounded by blades. The last
blade is separated incrementally. The glomerule is more
or less thumb-sized. The flowers are tiny and pale yellow AREAS OF USE
in color. The anthers are double, coronate long, thin
arenaceous channeled and horn-shaped. The ovary is It has been used as a prominent spice and medicinal
oval and three-celled, each of which contains lots of eggs plant across the world since ancient times. The ginger we
as well as filament-shaped, stigma funnel-shaped, consume in fresh or dried from is Rhizoma zingiberis
peripheral hairy anthers with horn-shaped anthers right drug obtained from Z. officinale rhizomes. Ginger use is
under the apex. The plant is widely cultivated all over fairly high in USA, England and Scandinavian countries
India, Bangladesh, Taiwan, Jamaica and Nigeria. This apart from the countries it is cultivated today. Some 2500
perennial grows in warm climates (Schauenberg and years ago, its forms of use in China included digestive
Paris, 1977). aid, nausea remover, toothache reliever, bleeding
regulator, rheumatic effective, remedy against baldness,
anti-snakebite medicine and breathing regulator.
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION Moreover, ginger bears a great significance in traditional
Chinese medicine in our day, too. It occupies a large area
The active ingredients in ginger are thought to reside in of production and use in India as well. It has been used
its volatile oils, which comprise approximately 1 - 3% of as an anticoagulant and cholesterol preventers, and
its weight. The major active ingredients in ginger oil are remedy for arthritis in traditional Indian medicine. Its form
the sesquiterpenes: bisapolene, zingiberene, and of use in Arab culture is an aphrodisiac. Some Africans
zingiberol (Connell and Sutherland, 1969; Yoshikawa et also believe that mosquitoes are repelled when they eat
al., 1993). The concentrations of active ingredients vary ginger on a regular basis. Epstein-Barr virus infection is
with growing conditions. Ginger’s active ingredients have among the reasons of cancer. It is reported that ginger
a variety of physiologic effects. For example, the inhibits this virus infection and thereby prevents cancer.
gingerols have analgesic, sedative, antipyretic and Direct effect of ginger on humans is in the form of a
Moghaddasi and Kashani 4257
nausea reliever in the gastrointestinal system. (Govindarajan, 1982).
Traditional use FORMS OF USE
Ginger is carminative, pungent, stimulant, used widely for Ginger tea
indigestion, stomachache, malaria and fevers. It is chiefly
used to cure diseases due to morbidity of Kapha and In order to prepare ginger tea, a 2.5 cm tall fresh ginger
Vata. Ginger with lime juice and rock salt increases root is sliced or used in powdered form. Next, half a
appetite and stimulates the secretion of gastric juices. It dessertspoon of ginger refined using a grinder is added
is said to be used for abdominal pain, anorexia, arthritis, to a full glass of cold water, heated up to the boiling
atonic dyspepsia, bleeding, cancer, chest congestion, degree in a mild temperature, then boiled in a mild
chicken pox, cholera, chronic bronchitis, cold extremities, temperature for 5 to 6 min and drained. If necessary, a
colic, colitis, common cold, cough, cystic fibrosis, cup of freshly brewed tea is sweetened by squeezing
diarrhoea, difficulty in breathing, dropsy, fever, flatulent, juice of half a lemon and adding honey; and drinks it
indigestion, disorders of gallbladder, hyperacidity, before it cools down. There is no inconvenience in
hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycemia, indigestion, drinking 1 or 2 cups of freshly brewed tea a day. The tea
morning sickness, nausea, rheumatism, sore throat, is preferred especially in complaints related to digestive
throat ache, stomach ache and vomiting. Ginger forms an system.
important constituent of many pharmacopoeial Ayurvedic
formulations (Misra, 1969; Nadakarni, 1993).
Tincture
Anti-ulcer activity You may prepare ginger tincture using a proper dilution.
Primary areas of use are digestive problems, asthma and
In a previous study, ginger and 6-gingerol inhibited complaints related to urinary tract. Drink it continuously or
experimental gastric ulcers in rats (Yamahara, 1988; Al- when necessary by adding 10 to 15 drops into half a
Yahya, 1989). Fresh ginger decocted in water resulted in tablespoon of lukewarm water for 2 or 3 times a day.
symptomatic improvement in 10 patients with peptic
ulcers (Chang, 1987).
Spice
Anti-inflammatory activity Ginger is such a spice that patients suffering from
stomach ulcer may use it conveniently. Spices containing
Ginger extract inhibited carrageenan-induced paw ginger with may be conveniently added into soups, grilled
swelling and was as active as aspirin (Schauenberg and meat with the purpose of easing digestion, any kind of
Paris, 1977). Essential oil of ginger inhibited chronic cheese, vegetables, fruit salad, rice pilaf, muffins or
adjuvant arthritis in rats (Connell and Sutherland, 1969). cakes. Spices with ginger are preferred mostly due to
Ginger and its pungent components are dual inhibitors of their aphrodisiac effect.
arachiodonic acid metabolism; that is, they inhibit both
cyclooxygenase (prostaglandin synthetase) and
lipoxygenase enzymes of the prostaglandin and WARNINGS
leukotriene biosynthetic pathways (Mascolo et al., 1989;
Flynn, 1986; Farnsworth, 1992). Ginger should not be used together with blood diluent
medicines like heparin, warfarin and aspirin because
bleeding time may be prolonged in long-term use of
Cardiovascular effects ginger, which is also a strong inhibitor of thromboxane
synthetase. It does not bear any known side effect except
Ginger exerted a powerful positive inotropic effect on for its long-term use during pregnancy period (it may be
isolated guinea pigs left atria (Connell, 1970). Gingerols used for short terms against pregnancy nauseas).
were identified as the active components (Shoji, 1982;
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