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Zingiber Officinale.

Plant parts used: Rhizome.

Description:
A herbaceous rhizornatous perennial, upto 90 cm in height when fully
grown. The herb develops several lateral shoots in clumps. Leazies
are 15-30 cm long and 2-3 cm broad, with sheathiiig bases, the blade
gradually tapering to a point. The rhizomes are aromatic, thick lobed
pale yellow, bearing simple alternate (listichotis) narrow, oblong
lanceolate leaves.

Chemical Composition:
Ginger contains 1-2% volatile oil and 5-8% resinous matter, starch and
iiiucilage. The oil of ginger is a mixture of over 24 constituents,
consisting of monoterpenes (phellandrene,'(+) carnphene, cineolc,,
citral and borneol) and sesquiterpenes etc (zingiberine, and
hisabolene)'2. The pungent component is gingerol(*3, *4)'-'formed in
the plant from phenylalaanine, nialoiiate and hexanoate.(*5). Minor
constituents of an extract are gingreniols, methylgingediol,
gingeryldiacetates and methyl gingediacetates(*6).

Medicinal properties:
Used for it`s Anti-inflammatory activity.
The active principles – gingerol, dehydrogingerdione and gingerdione were shown to be potent inhibitors of
prostaglandin(prostanoid class of fatty acid derivative lipids containing prostaglandins- causes muscular
constriction and mediate inflammation) synthesis'- confirming the mechanism of anti-inflammatory effect. The anti-
rheumatic effects were further confirmed by other investigators (*9, *10).
Antihistaminic activity has also been shown in vitroll.
Cardiac inotropic activity has been shown (14).Ginger was shown to have significant antiemetic(A drug that prevents
or alleviates nausea and vomiting) and antivertigo (Anti-Motion sickness/motion dizziness) effects like dramamine.
It has been used effectively along with Piper nigrum and Piper longum in viral hepatitis.
Ginger forms an important constituent of many ayurvedic formulations.
It is chiefly used as a home remedy for nausea and dyspepsia (an uncomfortable feeling in the upper middle part of
your stomach).

Contraindication: The commonly prescribed doses are well tolerated..

References:
1. Raghunathan, K. and R. Mittra: Pharmacognosy of indigenous Drugs. Central Council for Research in Ayurveda &
Siddha. New Delhi. (1982).
2. Trease, G. E. and W. C. Evans: Pharmacognosy, ELBS/Ballicre Tindall, Eastbourne (1983).
3. Smith, R. M. and J. M. Robinson.. Phytochemistry 20: 203 (1981).
4. Slucki, K. and E. Steinegger: Planta Med. 39: 274 (1980).
5. Deniff, 1. J. et al... J. Chem. Soc. 1.. 1267 (1980).
6. Harvey, D. j.: J. Chromatogr. 212: 75.
7. Sharma, A. K. et al.: Bull. Med. Ethnobot. Res. 1: 262 (1980).
8. Kinchr, F. et al.: Chem. Pharm. Bull. 30: 754 (1982).
9. Kishore, P. et al.: Rheumatism 19. 476 (1982).
10. Babu, S. R... Rheumatism IS: 24 (1982).
11. Toyoda, I.: Chem. Abstr. 71: 33425 m (1969).
12. Battar, 0. P... Ind. J. Exp. Biol. 20: 572 (1982).
13. Koho, J. P.: Kokai Tokyo 82: 59: SW (1982) Chem. Abstr. 97: 33378 k (1982).
14. Ohijumi, Y. et al.: J. Pharm. Sci. 71: 1174 (1982).
15. Masaki, A. et al.: Wakan, Shinp. 15: 162 (1982).
16. Zutshi, U. and J. L. Kaul: Ind. Drugs 19. 476 (1982).

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