Ginger

A tropical herbaceous perennial plant of approximately 0.90 m tall that grows from a rhizome - evergreen, lance-shaped, biseriate, long and fragrant leaves - White and yellow flowers with red edges, with green and yellow bracts. A short axillary ear enclosing encapsulated black seeds appear after the plant flowers at the end of a stem covered in scales.

Latin name

Zingiber officinale Roscoe

Origin

Asia.

Used part

The rhizomes.

Active components

Oleoresin: responsible for the heat when eaten, but also for the antiemetic and digestive effect.

Usage

Ginger is often used as a spice in cooking and it is also found as a component in various spice blends. It has a distinctive flavour that induces appetite. It is an essential ingredient in Asian cuisine, where it is used in spicy dishes and even in patisserie. The root can even be confited for use in confectionery. Ginger ale is a refreshing carbonated drink based on ginger. Originating in Suriname, ginger ale is now popular as a non-alcoholic yet somewhat spicy drink. Ginger has a long history of medicinal use in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. It has been used to stimulate libido and vitality, but also to treat travel sickness, nausea, digestive disorders and inflammation. Scientific research into ginger demonstrates that this plant is rich in antioxidants _1-7and that it has immunomodulating properties _8-18.

Bibliographical references

Effects of 6-gingerol, an antioxidant from ginger, on inducingapoptosis in human leukemic HL-60 cells.
In Vivo. 2003 Nov-Dec;17(6):641-5.
Wang CC, Chen LG, Lee LT, Yang LL.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14758732
6-shogaol-rich extract from ginger up-regulates theantioxidant defense systems in cells and mice.
Bak MJ, Ok S, Jun M, Jeong WS.
Molecules. 2012 Jul 4;17(7):8037-55.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22763741
10-Shogaol, an Antioxidant from Zingiber officinale forSkin Cell Proliferation and Migration Enhancer.
Chen CY, Cheng KC, Chang AY, Lin YT, Hseu YC, Wang HM.
Int J Mol Sci. 2012;13(2):1762-77.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22408422
In vitro antioxidant and anticancer activity of youngZingiber officinale against human breast carcinoma cell lines.
Rahman S, Salehin F, Iqbal A.
BMC Complement Altern Med. 2011 Sep 20;11:76.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21933433
Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties of Curcumalonga (turmeric) versus Zingiber officinale (ginger) rhizomes inrat adjuvant-induced arthritis.
Ramadan G, Al-Kahtani MA, El-Sayed WM.
Inflammation. 2011 Aug;34(4):291-301
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21120596
Protective effects of dietary ginger (Zingiber officinalesRosc.) on lindane-induced oxidative stress in rats.
Ahmed RS, Suke SG, Seth V, Chakraborti A, Tripathi AK,Banerjee BD.
Phytother Res. 2008 Jul;22(7):902-6.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18389491
Antioxidant properties of gingerol related compounds fromginger.
Masuda Y, Kikuzaki H, Hisamoto M, Nakatani N.
Biofactors. 2004;21(1-4):293-6.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15630214
In vitro immunomodulatory effects of ten commonly usedherbs on murine lymphocytes.
Wilasrusmee C, Kittur S, Siddiqui J, Bruch D, Wilasrusmee S,Kittur DS.
J Altern Complement Med. 2002 Aug;8(4):467-75.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12230907
Immunosuppressive activity of 8-gingerol on immuneresponses in mice.
Lu J, Guan S, Shen X, Qian W, Huang G, Deng X, Xie G.
Molecules. 2011 Mar 22;16(3):2636-45.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21441866

10. Repeated oral administration of a squeezed ginger(Zingiber officinale) extract augmented the serum corticosteronelevel and had anti-inflammatory properties.
Ueda H, Ippoushi K, Takeuchi A.
Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2010;74(11):2248-52.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21071834
Immunomodulatory activity of Zingiber officinale Roscoe,Salvia officinalis L. and Syzygium aromaticum L. essential oils:evidence for humor- and cell-mediated responses.
Carrasco FR, Schmidt G, Romero AL, Sartoretto JL,Caparroz-Assef SM, Bersani-Amado CA, Cuman RK.
J Pharm Pharmacol. 2009 Jul;61(7):961-7.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19589240
TBK1-targeted suppression of TRIF-dependent signalingpathway of Toll-like receptors by 6-shogaol, an active component ofginger.
Park SJ, Lee MY, Son BS, Youn HS.
Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2009 Jul;73(7):1474-8.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19584560
Inhibition of homodimerization of toll-like receptor 4 by6-shogaol.
Ahn SI, Lee JK, Youn HS.
Mol Cells. 2009 Feb 28;27(2):211-5.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19277504
Ginger prevents Th2-mediated immune responses in a mousemodel of airway inflammation.
Ahui ML, Champy P, Ramadan A, Pham Van L, Araujo L, BrouAndré K, Diem S, Damotte D, Kati-Coulibaly S, Offoumou MA, Dy M,Thieblemont N, Herbelin A.
Int Immunopharmacol. 2008 Dec 10;8(12):1626-32.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18692598
Ginger extract inhibits LPS induced macrophage activationand function.
Tripathi S, Bruch D, Kittur DS.
BMC Complement Altern Med. 2008 Jan 3;8:1.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18173849
Evaluation of Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe)Bioactive Compounds in Increasing the Ratio of T-cell SurfaceMolecules of CD3+CD4+:CD3+CD8+ In-Vitro.
Tejasari D.
Malays J Nutr. 2007 Sep;13(2):161-70.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22691754
Macrophage-mediated inhibitory effect of Zingiberofficinale Rosc, a traditional oriental herbal medicine, on thegrowth of influenza A/Aichi/2/68 virus.
Imanishi N, Andoh T, Mantani N, Sakai S, Terasawa K, ShimadaY, Sato M, Katada Y, Ueda K, Ochiai H.
Am J Chin Med. 2006;34(1):157-69.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16437748
The modulatory effects of the volatile oil of ginger onthe cellular immune response in vitro and in vivo in mice.
Zhou HL, Deng YM, Xie QM.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Apr 21;105(1-2):301-5.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16338110

The health claims that feature on our website in relation to the plants contained in our products are compliant with the list of health claims awaiting final assessment by the Community authorities (cf. website of the European Commission: http://ec.europa.eu/nuhclaims/). However, they may be subject to modification following their assessment by the national competent authorities.

The health claims relating to other nutrients or substances contained in our products that feature on our site are compliant with Regulation No. 432/2012 of the Commission of 16 May 2012 which establishes a list of authorised health claims authorised in relation to food products, other than those in reference to the reduction of the risk of disease as well as community-based development and child health (cf. website of the European Commission: http://ec.europa.eu/nuhclaims/).