Tuesday, May 11, 2021

Why Eat Ginger ?

 姜还是老的辣 ( simplified Chinese writing)

jiang hai shi lao de la.

薑還是老的辣

The older the ginger, the spicier it gets. (The older, the wiser)


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m4ao4QGQOE0


Ginger is an amazing herb to help heal and repair your body. Natural anti-inflammatory food for the whole body. Stay breathing healthy . 

Ginger is an amazing herb to help heal and repair your body.


By Dr.Mandell


生姜是一种神奇的草药,可帮助您治愈和修复身体。 天然抗炎食品,适合全身。 保持呼吸健康。

 生姜是一种神奇的草药,可帮助您治愈和修复身体。


 曼德尔博士


Chemical structure of active constituents


Numerous active ingredients are present in ginger including terpenes and oleoresin which called ginger oil. Ginger also constitutes volatile oils approximately 1% to 3% and non-volatile pungent components oleoresin . The major identified components from terpene are sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and phenolic compounds which are gingerol and shogaol  and lipophilic rhizome extracts, yielded potentially active gingerols, which can be converted to shogaols, zingerone, and paradol  (Figure 2).


Figure 2

Chemical of structure of active ingredients of Ginger.


Mechanism of action of ginger in diseases management


Ginger, the rhizome of the Zingiber officinale, plays an important role in prevention of diseases (Table 1). But the exact mechanism of action in diseases management is not understood fully. It is thought that ginger act as anticancer due to various constituents such as vallinoids, viz. -gingerol and -paradol, shogaols, zingerone, and galanals A and B  and constituents show a therapeutics role in diseases control via modulation of various biological activities as describe as following:


Table 1

Showing biological activities of ginger active compounds


1. Ginger and its constituents show antioxidant activity and prevent the damage of macromolecules, caused by the free radicals/oxidative stress.


2. Ginger and its constituents also show a vital role as anti-inflammatory processes. Earlier studies on in vitro investigations of ginger preparations and some isolated gingerol-related compounds showed that anti-inflammatory effects of ginger such as inhibition of COX  and inhibition of nuclear factor κB .


3. Ginger also acts as antitumor via modulation of genetic pathways such as activation tumour suppressor gene, modulation of apoptosis and inhibition of VEGF. Earlier study has shown that terpenoids, constituents of ginger induce apoptosis in endometrial cancer cells through the activation of p53.


4. Ginger also shows antimicrobial and other biological activities due gingerol and paradol, shogaols and zingerone. An important finding showed that 10% ethanolic ginger extract was found to possess antimicrobial potential against pathogens .


Pharmalogical activities of ginger and its constituents


Ginger showed its importance as a medicine in Asian countries since ancient times.

 Pharmalogical activities of ginger and its constituents in health managements through modulation of various biological activities described as following:


Antioxidant activity


Antioxidants are substances that play a role in the neutralization of free radicals and oxidative stress. The free radical production is balanced by the antioxidative defense system of our body .

 Any alterations between reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and its neutralization by antioxidant defense  cause oxidative stress. Several plants and their constituents are rich source of antioxidant and play a significant role in prevention of disease progression process. Ginger is a source of a large number of antioxidants and also plays an important role in the reduction of the lipid oxidation and inhibits the pathogenesis of diseases (Figure 3). Previous study reported that ginger extract possesses antioxidative characteristics and shows a role in scavenge superoxide anion and hydroxyl radicals and gingerol, inhibited ascorbate/ferrous complex induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes .


Figure 3

Ginger and its constituents shows role in diseases prevention.


The essential oil and oleoresin of Zingiber officinale exhibited significant antioxidant and antimicrobial activities . 6 Dehydroshogaol, 6-shogaol and 1-dehydro-6-gingerdione has shown potent inhibitors of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis in activated macrophages . Another report in the favor of ginger as antioxidant showed that 6-shogaol has potent antioxidant properties which can be attributed to the presence of unsaturated ketone moiety . Another study has shown that phenolic substances possess strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties and considerable anticarcinogenic and antimutagenic activities and showed role as in scavenging of H2O2, which donate electrons to H2O2, thus neutralizing it to water. 

Earlier report showed that antioxidative activity of ginger extract in animal model .


Anti-inflammatory activity

Inflammation is a complex immune process and various mediators such as interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and anti-inflammatory cytokines involve in this process. Currently non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly used to treat the inflammation but this drug shows an adverse side effect and gastric ulcer. Various medicinal plants and their constituents have shown a vital effect in the prevention of inflammatory process. Earlier study has shown that ginger oil (33 mg/kg), administered orally to rats for 26 days, showed significant repression of paw and joint swelling associated with severe chronic adjuvant arthritis. Ginger also shows a vital role in the suppression/inhibition in synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1, TNF-α, and IL-8 . Another finding revealed that, the elevated expression of TNF-α in liver cancer rats was blocked when treated with ginger extract (100 mg/kg body weight) . In addition to that, Ginger play a role in the inhibition of COX and 5-lipoxygenase, essential for arachidonate metabolism , and down-regulating the induction of inflammatory genes .


Earlier investigation has shown that, Ginger root and its constituents can inhibit NF-κB activation induced by a variety of agents  and downregulation of NF-κB gene products involved in cellular proliferation and angiogenesis . DZO also shows a role in suppressing the expression of LPS-induced IFN-γ and IL-6, which are elevated in LPS-induced inflammation . 

Anti-tumour activity


Tumour development and progressions are multi step process including genetic and metabolic changes [41,42]. Earlier study summarized the role of medicinal plant in the diseases management via modulation of various biological activities including cancer [43,44]. Ginger and its constituents show a vital effect in the control of tumour development through up regulation of tumour suppressor gene, induction of apoptosis and inactivation of VEGF pathways (Figure 4). Angiogenic factor such as VEGF play a significant role in the development and progression of tumour. Therefore, Inhibition of VEGF is an important step in the prevention of tumour development/management. Earlier investigation has shown that, 6-gingerol has role in the suppression of the transformation, hyperproliferation, and inflammatory processes that involve in various steps of carcinogenesis, angiogenesis and metastasis [45-48]. Another numerous studies showed that 6-gingerol, constituents of ginger play a role in the induction of apoptosis in the prostate cancer cell line LnCaP by increasing the expression of p53 and Bax and also decreasing the expression of Bcl-2 [49-51]. Another important study has shown that 6-shogaol show anticancer activities against breast cancer via inhibition of cell invasion reduction of matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression [52]. Another important finding suggest that 6-gingerol stimulates apoptosis through upregulation of NAG-1 and G1 cell cycle arrest through downregulation of cyclin D1 [53].


Figure 4


Ginger and its constituent play pharmacological effect in cancer management via modulation of molecular mechanism.


An important study reported that ginger root extracts and gingerol play a significant role in inhibition of the growth of Helicobacter pylori CagA+ strains, which has a specific gene linked to the development of gastric premalignant and malignant lesions. Moreover, 6-shogaol has shown to induce apoptosis in human colorectal carcinoma cells via the production of reactive oxygen species and activation of caspase  and [6]-gingerol inhibited pulmonary metastasis in mice bearing B16F10 melanoma cells through the activation of CD8+ T cells . Earlier finding has reported that 6-gingerol showed its anti-tumoral activity through induction of ROS which is also known to trigger activation of p53 and the cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Another important and first finding showed that in vitro and in vivo anticancer activity of whole GE for the management of prostate cancer.


Anti-microbial activity

Drug resistance is increasing worldwide and it is consider as a main culprit in the failure of treatment. The use of antibiotics against bacteria/microorganism is effective mode of treatment but also causes adverse complications. Earlier investigators have shown that, ginger and its constituents play a vital role in the prevention of microbial growth or acts as anti-microbial agents. An important study in the favors of ginger as anti-microbial activity showed that ginger has antimicrobial activity against E coli, Salmonella typhi and Bacillus subtilis and ethanolic extract of ginger showed widest zone of inhibition against Salmonella typhi . Ginger rhizome contains several constituents which have antibacterial and anti fungal effects. The gingerol and shagelol are identified as more active agents. Earlier studies have shown that, ginger has broad antibacterial activity and the ethanolic extract of ginger powder has pronounced inhibitory activities against Candida albicans and other report also showed that antifungal properties of ginger extract, Gingerol. Chief constituents such as [6]-gingerol and [12]-gingerol, isolated from ginger rhizome, showed antibacterial activity against periodontal bacteria  and [10]-gingerol has been reported as active inhibitor of M. avium and M. tuberculosis in vitro .


Anti-diabetic activity

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder and major global health problem worldwide. It is caused by abnormality of carbohydrate metabolism which is related to low blood insulin level or insensitivity of target organs to insulin . As per estimation, one person is detected with diabetes every five second in the world whereas someone dies of it every 10 second . Ginger and their constituents showed pivotal role in the control of diabetes and its complications via anti hyperglycemic effect. The exact mechanism of action of ginger in diabetes control is not fully understood but it might be due to the inhibition of oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory process.

An important finding based on in STZ treated-type 1 diabetic rat model reported that, oral administration of ethanolic extract of ginger significantly decrease fasting blood glucose level . Earlier study reported that significant blood glucose lowering effect of ginger juice in diabetic and non-diabetic animals . Another study has shown that a significant hypoglycemic activity in rats after administration of ginger extract .


Neuroprotective effect

Ginger and their constituents play a vital role as neuroprotector. The exact mechanism of action of ginger in this vista is not known fully. But it is thought ginger shows neuroprotector effect due to the phenolic and flavonoids compounds. An important study has shown that, 6-shogaol has neuroprotective effects in transient global ischemia via the inhibition of microglia . 

Another finding in the support of ginger as neuroprotector suggests that, it exhibit neuroprotective effect by accelerating brain anti-oxidant defence mechanisms and down regulating the MDA levels to the normal levels in the diabetic rats . A recent report on ginger juice showed that, ginger has protective effect by decreasing the LPO and increasing GSH, SOD, CAT, GPx, GST, GR and QR and protein level in treated rats .


Effect on osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is one of the leading causes of musculoskeletal pain and disability worldwide.

 Treatment of osteoarthritis based on anti-inflammatory drugs gives relief but also shows side effect and may cause gastric ulcer.

 Ginger shows a significant role in the treatment of osteoarthritis and also has important therapeutic importance in Ayurvedic and Unani medicine since ancient time. An important study on osteoarthritis (OA) patients of knee has revealed that, highly purified and standardized ginger extract had significant effect on reducing symptoms of OA of the knee . Another report in the support of ginger showed that, ginger is effective as indomethacin in relieving symptoms of osteoarthritis with negligible side effects .


Gastroprotective effect

Peptic ulcer is a major problem worldwide in both sexes. Various factors including food ingredients, stress, Helicobacter pylori and drugs are responsible of gastric ulcer. Several medicinal plants and its constituents show anti-ulcer effect in various ways but the exact mechanism is not understood fully. Ginger and its constituents show a vital role in ulcer prevention via increasing mucin secretion. Earlier findings have shown anti-ulcerative effects of ginger in experimental gastric ulcer models . Chief constituents of ginger such as [6]-gingerol and [6]-shogaol suppressed gastric contraction in situ and suppression by the [6]-shogaol was more intensive .


Anti-emetic effect

Ginger and its constituents show a significant effect on nausea and vomiting. Exact mechanism of action of ginger in nausea and vomiting is not clear but it is thought that such type of effect due to constituents present in ginger including gingerols, shogaols, and galanolactone and diterpenoid of ginger. Studies based on animal model revealed that, ginger extract possesses antiserotoninergic and 5-HT3 receptor antagonism effects which play an important role in the etiology of postoperative nausea and vomiting. A study in the favors of ginger role in nausea and vomiting indicating its effect and provide relief in severity in nausea and vomiting.


Hepato-protective effect

Earlier investigators based on experimental findings have shown that, ginger and its constituents play a significant role in hepato-protection. An important study on ginger showed its protective effect against the CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity. Another report has shown that, administration of single dose of aqueous extract of ginger (200, 400 mg/kg prior to acetaminophen) was effective in preventing the acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity and also decreased ALT, AST and ALP levels and increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes levels in the liver . Ginger is also useful in preventing the mancozeb-induced hepatotoxicity [85]. A recent report showed that, ginger is effective in reversing lead induced reduction in the liver weight, to increase plasma SOD and CAT activity, decrease LPx [86]. A recent report summarized the role of ginger in various types of diseases including diabetic liver, kidney, eye, and neural system complications .


Effect on migraine

An important study showed that administration of ginger powder at dose of 500-600 mg for 3-4 days with gap of 4 hours, showed relief from migraine attack .


Effect of ginger on eye

Ginger and its constituents show an important role in the management of diabetes and its related symptoms including retinopathy. Earlier report has shown that an extract of ginger with dose 0.1 and 1.0 mg/mL reduced CML-KLH and MGO-derived advanced glycation end products (AGE) products by 60%-80% and glucose-derived AGE products by 50%-60%.


Safety, efficacy and toxicity of ginger

Numerous plants and its constituents show an important therapeutic effect in the health management. Measurement of toxicity and lethal dose level is important before using in health management. Several studies were performed to check the safe dose in animal model study.The dose and toxicity of ginger has been checked and recommended by various earlier investigators. A study in this vista, showed that dose of 0.5-1.0 g of ginger powder ingested 2-3 times for periods of 3 months to 2.5 years did not cause any adverse effects. Another study on animals showed that the doses of 2.5 gram/kg body weight were tolerated without any mortality. But, when the dose was increased to 3-3.5 gram/kg body weight then there was 10-30% mortality. An important study showed that ginger extract with different dosages such as 100, 333 and 1000 mg/kg administered to pregnant rats for 10 days during the period of organogenesis caused neither maternal nor developmental toxicity. Other study conducted in both male and female rats at the dosages of 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg body weight for 35 days and results proved that chronic administration of ginger was not associated with any mortalities and abnormalities in general conditions, behavior, growth, and food and water consumption .


Conclusions


Current mode of treatment based on synthetic drugs such as anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, chemotherapy and radiotherapy drugs for the treatment are effective but also shows adverse side effect. 

A safe, effective and inexpensive product is needed to control the diseases development via modulation of genetic, metabolic, anti-oxidant and other associated activity. Ginger shows an important effect in the suppression of NFkB, COX2, and LOX, induction of apoptosis, activation of tumour suppressor gene and also modulates various biological activities. Ginger and their constituents create optimism towards the novel therapeutic strategy. Future research should focus on clinical trials to investigate its effectiveness and their exact role in modulation of molecular pathways.

Learn about 18 Types of Ginger Plants and their uses. These ginger family plants can be grown for ornamental and culinary purposes, both in pots and gardens.

Apart from common ginger, there are other species that are grown not just for taste but for their appearance as well. Here’re some of them–You can select your favorite ones from this list of types of ginger plants and grow them for edible rhizomes or exotic flowers. Also, there are varieties like shell ginger that become a great foliage plant.


Types of Ginger Plants

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1. Common Ginger

Botanical Name: Zingiber Officinale

Other Names: True ginger, Jengibre, Jenjibre dulce, Ginger, Adrak, and Kion

Common ginger is a world-famous spice or herb, known for its aromatic and pungent rhizomes. It has significant medicinal and culinary uses and needs no introduction.

Growing Tips

Ginger thrives best in filtered sunlight.You can grow it in pots as well. Check out our tutorial for more details. 


2. Beehive Ginger

Botanical Name: Zingiber spectabile

Other Names: Ginger Wort, Malaysian Ginger

Beehive Ginger is famous as an ornamental plant due to its unique skep-beehive like yellow inflorescences that become red once mature. All parts have a strong gingery fragrance, leaves and rhizomes are ingredients in making local dishes and appetizers.

Growing tips: Avoid placing it in full sun, as direct sunlight can burn this plant.It grows best in a humid climate.


3. Bitter Ginger

Botanical Name: Zingiber zerumbet

Other Names: Pinecone Ginger, Itter Ginger, Broad-leaved Ginger, Martinique Ginger, Pinecone Lily, Lempoyang, and Wild ginger.

Also known as shampoo ginger, it tastes bitter as compared to the common ginger and added in food flavoring and appetizers. It’s used primarily in herbal medicines and making shampoos.

Growing tips: Feed the plant with 8-4-6 fertilizer every three months.Grow it in bright and filtered light in warm soil.


4. Myoga Ginger

Botanical Name: Zingiber mioga

Other Name: Japanese Ginger

In Japan, Myoga Ginger’s flowers and young shoots are used as a tasty garnish on various food. It has a zesty and spicy flavor with a strong, pungent aroma. Myoga also finds many uses in Korean cuisines.

Growing tips: It is better to grow it in partial shade.It thrives in moist soil.

Other Types of Ginger Plants


5. Crepe Ginger

Botanical Name: Cheilocostus speciosus

Other Names: Crape ginger, Malay ginger, and Cane reed

Known for its crepe-paper like showy white flowers that emerge from reddish-burgundy spiraled inflorescences. Having an acrid and pungent taste, this plant grows up to 10 feet tall. Its flowers and buds are also edible.

Growing tips: It grows under the canopy of trees.Warm and humid climates are best for its growth.


6. Hidden Ginger

Botanical Name: Curcuma petiolata

Other Names: Queen Lily, Siam Tulip, Hidden Lily.

Hidden Ginger is a Malaysian native. Bentong ginger.  ( click here watch YouTube 文冬姜。.  It has a spicy scent and a bitter taste. It produces beautiful flowers of bright purple, pink, or orange colors. The rhizomes are used for medicinal purposes.

Growing tips: This 2-3 feet tall plant becomes an excellent container specimen.Growing it is similar to canna lilies.


7. Butterfly Lily Ginger

Botanical Name: Hedychium coronarium

Other Name: White Ginger, Flor De Mariposa, Mariposa Blanca, Dolan Champa

Thanks to its scented flowers that look like fluttering butterflies, it gets its name–Butterfly Lily Ginger. Its spicy edible roots are the main ingredient in flavoring soups, and the essential oil is beneficial in treating fever. Learn about more medicinal plants here.

Growing tips: The national flower of Cuba is very invasive in optimum growing conditions.It’s better to grow it in pots.

8. Shell Ginger

Botanical Name: Alpinia zerumbet

Other Name: Variegated Ginger, Sannin, Getto plant

Shell ginger has ovate leaves with green stripes that make it an ornamental plant. It blooms clusters of pink buds, emitting luscious aroma. With clove-like flavor, it’s edible leaves are the primary agents in noodles and teas in Okinawan cuisines, rhizomes are used for medicinal purpose.

Growing tips: While it can grow up to 8-10 feet tall, it doesn’t exceed above 3-4 feet in pots.It can be a beautiful houseplant.


9. Dancing Ladies Ginger

Botanical Name: Globba winitii

Other Name: White Dragon Flower

This showy ginger family plant is rare to find. It has unique flowers that emit sweet honeysuckle like fragrance and resembles dancing ladies when they move in the wind.


Growing tips: It can be grown in USDA zones 8-11.A spot that receives part sun is best. You can also grow it in the shade.


10. Yellow Ginger

Botanical Name: Hedychium flavescens

Other Name: Cream Garland-Lily, Yellow Ginger Lily, Wild Ginger

Growing up to 5-6 feet tall, the fleshy rhizomes of yellow ginger are edible but not as flavorful as common ginger. Gardeners usually grow it for its highly fragrant flowers. It also has uses in herbal medicines.


Growing tips: Grow it in well-drained and moderately fertile soil.It’s a shade-tolerant plant.


11. Red Ginger

Botanical Name: Alpinia purpurata

Other Names: Ostrich Plumes, Pink Cone Ginger, Jungle king, Teuila Flower, and Tahitian ginger

Rhizomes and stalks of this plant have a strong spicy scent. But what it’s famous for is the bright red or pink bracts that look stunning.

Growing tips: The national flower of Samoa prefers warm and moist soil to thrive.Grow it under diffused light, avoiding full sun.


12. Torch Ginger

Botanical Name: Etlingera elatior.

Other Names: Wild ginger, Combrang, Bunga Kantan, Philippine waxflower, and Red ginger lily, Indonesian Tall Ginger, Boca De Dragón, Rose De Porcelaine

This tropical plant can be up to 15 feet tall and looks glorious with its big and vibrant flowers that appear in red, pink, or orange color. The whole plant is edible, and fruits, seed pods, seeds, flowers stems are eaten in many ASEAN countries. Flower buds have a piquant taste and used in traditional Indonesian and Thai dishes.

Growing tips: You can also grow it in a large pot.Protect it from intense afternoon sunlight.


13. Mango Ginger

Botanical Name: Curcuma amada

Other Names: Mavina Shunti, आम्बे हळद

Mango ginger is something between turmeric and ginger. The ginger-like rhizomes have a fragrant, spicy taste like common ginger with a hint of raw mango. It primarily used in Indian cooking in preparing pickles, chutneys, and soups.

Growing tips: Growing it is similar to common ginger.In cold climates, you can grow it in warmer months.


14. Kahili Ginger

Botanical Name: Hedychium gardnerianum.

Other Name: Fragrant Ginger Lily, Kahila Garland-Lily.

This plant is native to Himalayan regions and grown primarily for the ornamental purpose–Large dramatic foliage and showy, fragrant flowers make it a truly exotic tropical plant. However, it does not have many edible usages.

Growing tips: It can be up to 8 feet tall. In containers, it doesn’t exceed above 3-4 feet.You can grow it indoors, as well.


15. Thai Ginger

Botanical Name: Alpinia galanga.

Other Names: Thai Ginseng Ginger, Krachai Dum Ginger, Lengkuas, Blue Ginger, and Greater Galangal.

Rhizomes of Thai Ginger have a pungent aroma with a flavor of pine needles and black pepper. Its rhizomes, flowers, and shoots have extensive uses in Thai curry, chili paste, and pickles.

Growing tips: Unlike other types of ginger plants, galangal can tolerate more sun and grows best in partial sunlight.Grow it in rich and moist soil.


16. Pineapple Ginger

Botanical Name: Tapeinochilos ananassae.

Other Names: Indonesian Wax Ginger, Lipstick Ginger.

Pineapple ginger has inconspicuous orange-yellow flowers and deep red bracts that grow on long cone-shaped inflorescences that resemble pineapples. It’s grown for ornamental purposes and used popularly in tropical cut flower arrangements.

Growing tips: It grows well in filtered sunlight.You can also place it indoors in a spot that receives several hours of morning sunlight.


17. Resurrection Lily

Botanical Name: Kaempferia rotunda.

Other Names: Peacock Ginger, Variegated Ginger Lily, Indian Crocus, Round-Rooted Galangal.

It’s grown for dramatic foliage and lily-like flowers that emerge with sweet fragrance during fall and summer. The tubers have a not-so-pleasant spicy flavor and have similar uses like ginger. Young leaves are edible too.

Growing tips: It thrives well in moist soil. Grow the plant in semi-shade.

Click here to see the ginger plants 

18. Turmeric

Botanical Name: Curcuma longa.

Other Names: White Turmeric, Turmeric Ginger.

The must-have spice in Indian curries is not just used for food coloring–It’s a superfood. The roots of this ginger family plant have a peppery flavor with a slight hint of lemon.

Growing tip: You can easily grow several plants together in a medium-sized pot.

What is Turmeric?

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is obtained from the underground tubers or rhizomes. Originated in India, it is now cultivated throughout tropical Asia and to a smaller extent in other subtropical and tropical parts of the world.

You can grow this plant indoors, near a bright window, porch, patio, or balcony. Outdoors, you can plant it in your garden beds in a shady spot or under the shrubs to get a tropical look in your garden, along with flowers that come in white, red, pink, yellow, and red-maroon colors!


Where to Find the Rhizome or Turmeric Plant?



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