Therapeutic Potential of Zinigiber officinale: A Review

Zingiber officinale or more commonly known as ginger has been used in Chinese and Indian medicine over centuries and is also a common household spice found in those regions. It is known to treat gastrointestinal complaints, nausea and vomiting. Ginger also has an anti-inflammatory action which has proven effective in treating arthritis. Furthermore, it has been found to help improve iron absorption in patients with iron deficiency anaemia and has a hypoglycemic effect. Ginger is a natural remedy for many illnesses and diseases with no known side effects. Ginger contains 80.9 % moisture, 12.3 % carbohydrates, 2.3 % protein, 0.95 % fat, 1.2 % minerals and 2.4 % fibre. Minerals present are iron, calcium and phosphorus, while vitamins are thiamine, niacin, riboflavin and vitamin C. The major active component in fresh ginger is gingerol and in dried ginger is shagaol which is a dehydrated product of gingerol. Theres 1-3.5 % of volatile oils, primarily sesquiterpenes such as bisabolene, zingi-benene, camphene and acurcumene. Also, 6-10 % of lipids comprised of triglycerides, phosphatidic acid, lecithins and free fatty acids. In this article, the therapeutic benefits of Zingiber officinale is reviewed.