The rhizomes of Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Zingiberaceae), commonly known as ginger, is one of the most widely used spice and condiment. It is also an integral part of many traditional medicines and has been extensively used in Chinese, Ayurvedic, Tibb-Unani, Srilankan, Arabic, and African traditional medicines, since antiquity, for many unrelated human ailments including common colds, fever, sore throats, vomiting, motion sickness, gastrointestinal complications, indigestion, constipation, arthritis, rheumatism, sprains, muscular aches, pains, cramps, hypertension, dementia, fever, infectious diseases, and helminthiasis. The putative active compounds are nonvolatile pungent principles, namely gingerols, shogaols, paradols, and zingerone. These compounds are some of the extensively studied phytochemicals and account for the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiemetic, and gastroprotective activities. A number of preclinical investigations with a wide variety of assay systems and carcinogens have shown that ginger and its compounds possess chemopreventive and antineoplastic effects. A number of mechanisms have been observed to be involved in the chemopreventive effects of ginger. The cancer preventive activities of ginger are supposed to be mainly due to free radical scavenging, antioxidant pathways, alteration of gene expressions, and induction of apoptosis, all of which contribute towards decrease in tumor initiation, promotion, and progression. This review provides concise information from preclinical studies with both cell culture models and relevant animal studies by focusing on the mechanisms responsible for the chemopreventive action. The conclusion describes directions for future research to establish its activity and utility as a human cancer preventive and therapeutic drug. The above-mentioned mechanisms of ginger seem to be promising for cancer prevention; however, further clinical studies are warranted to assess the efficacy and safety of ginger.

Update on the Chemopreventive Effects of Ginger and its Phytochemicals

High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of 6-gingerol, 8-gingerol, 10-gingerol, and 6-shogaol in ginger-containing dietary supplements, spices, teas, and beverages.

Ginger rhizome (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) is widely cultivated as a spice for its aromatic and pungent components. The essential oil and oleoresins from ginger are valuable products responsible for the characteristic flavor and pungency. Both are used in several food products such as soft beverages and also in many types of pharmaceutical formulations. More than 100 compounds have been reported from ginger, some of which are isolated and characterized, others are tentatively identified by GC-MS and / or LC-MS. [6]-Gingerol, the major gingerol in ginger rhizomes, has been found to possess many interesting pharmacological and physiological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and cardiotonic effects. Ginger is considered as “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) by Food and Drug Administration (FDA), USA. Due to all these properties, ginger has gained considerable attention in developed countries in recent years, especially for its use in the treatment of inflammatory conditions. The present r...

An impression on current developments in the technology, chemistry, and biological activities of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe).

Structure-requirements of isocoumarins, phthalides, and stilbenes from Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium for inhibitory activity on histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells

Traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology and quality control of Alisma orientale (Sam.) Juzep: a review.

As a continuing study on the evaluation of various Zingiberis Rhizoma and the chemical characterization of the processing, a quantitative method by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for 6, 8, 10-gingerol (1, 2, 3), 6,8-shogaol (4, 5), 6-dehydrogingerdione (6), and galanolactone (7) has been developed. By the use of this HPLC method, the contents of these compound in twenty kinds of Zingiberis Rhizoma [originating in China, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Japan (Shizuoka Prefecture)] and fresh ginger root cultivated in Shizuoka Prefecture were examined. It was found that Japanese Zingiberis Rhizoma and fresh ginger root contained 6-gingerol (1), 6-dehydrogingerdione (6), and galanolactone (7) as major constituents, whereas 7 was not detected in imported Zingiberis Rhizoma and 6 was detected in Vietnamese Zingiberis Rhizoma. Furthermore, the contents of 1 and 7 in fresh ginger root decreased remarkably during the processing procedure for Zingiberis Rhizoma. In addition, anti-ulcer sesquiterpene constituents in seven kinds of Zingiberis Rhizoma were analyzed by means of gas liquid chromatography (GLC).

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of bioactive principles in Zingiberis Rhizoma by means of high performance liquid chromatography and gas liquid chromatography. On the evaluation of Zingiberis Rhizoma and chemical change of constituents during Zingiberis Rhizoma processing

As a series of study on the evaluation of Alismatis Rhizoma and the chemical characterization of the processing, a quantitative method by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for ten triterpene constituents, alisols A, A monoacetate, B, B monoacetate, E 23-acetate, F, and G and 13,17-epoxyalisol A, 11-deoxyalisols B and B 23-acetate, has been developed. By the use of this HPLC method, the contents of these triterpenes in various Alismatis Rhizoma and the fresh rhizoma of Alisma oriental JUZEPC, originated from in China, Taiwan, and Japan were examined. Furthermore, the chemical change of the triterpene constituents during the drying process of the rhizoma of Alisma oriental has been investigated and it was found that the bioactive triterpenes of Alismatis Rhizoma such as alisol A and alisol A monoacetate were artificially formed during the drying process.

Crude drugs from aquatic plants. III. Quantitative analysis of triterpene constituents in alismatis rhizoma by means of high performance liquid chromatography on the chemical change of the constituents during alismatis rhizoma processing

In order to characterize the chemical change of the constituents during the processing of Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium, quantitative analyses of phyllodulcin, hydrangenol, and their 8-O-glucosides were developed by means of high performance liquid chromatography. As an application of this HPLC method, the distribution of those dihydroisocoumarins in different parts of Hydrangea macrophylla var. thunbergii was investigated. It was found that these dihydroisocoumarins were contained at the highest concentration in the leaves. Furthermore, the seasonal fluctuation of these compounds in the leaves, together with the height of the plant and total dry weight of the leaves, were clarified and so that the suitable period for the harvest of Hydrangea macrophylla var. thunbergii was deduced to be from Oct. to Nov.

[Quantitative analysis of dihydroisocoumarin constituents of Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium by means of high performance liquid chromatography. Chemical characterization of the processing, distribution in plant, and seasonal fluctuation]

Yukie Nishino

Papers

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of bioactive principles in Zingiberis Rhizoma by means of high performance liquid chromatography and gas liquid chromatography. On the evaluation of Zingiberis Rhizoma and chemical change of constituents during Zingiberis Rhizoma processing

Crude drugs from aquatic plants. III. Quantitative analysis of triterpene constituents in alismatis rhizoma by means of high performance liquid chromatography on the chemical change of the constituents during alismatis rhizoma processing

[Quantitative analysis of dihydroisocoumarin constituents of Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium by means of high performance liquid chromatography. Chemical characterization of the processing, distribution in plant, and seasonal fluctuation]