Ginger (Zingiber officinale) – medicinal plant of the year

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) – medicinal plant of the year with a broad spectrum of active constituents

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a great deal more than just a culinary spice. The pungent, aromatic root can look back on a millennia-old tradition in ayurvedic, Chinese and Arabic medicine and was voted medicinal plant of the year by virtue of its extensive pharmacological profile. Modern pharmacological and clinical research is now confirming many of the traditional uses.

Constituents and quality-relevant markers

The pharmacological properties of ginger are determined by a complex mixture of secondary plant substances, the qualitative and quantitative compositions of which essentially depend on origin, processing and preparation. Analytically relevant groups of ingredients include the following:

• Pungent substances (gingerols and shogaols)

Gingerols are regarded as being the lead substances in fresh ginger drugs. Shogaols are produced from gingerols that have undergone thermal or dehydrating processes (e.g. drying) and exhibit modified active and stability profiles. Both groups of substances are frequently used as quality-determining markers.

• Essential oil

Contains such sesquiterpenes as zingiberene, β-bisabolene, curcumene and germacrene, as well as such monoterpenes as cineol. These components characterise the aroma and contribute to pharmacological effects.

• Diarylheptanoids

Secondary plant substances with antioxidant and inflammation-modulating properties.

• Phenolic compounds

Contribute to the overall antioxidant capacity.

• Minerals and vitamins

Including potassium, magnesium, iron, vitamin C and B vitamins in varying concentrations.

From a regulatory point of view, gingerols and shogaols are particularly important, as they are frequently used in identification testing, quantitative analysis and comparability testing of ginger drugs and preparations.

Areas of application – state of evidence

Ginger is traditionally used for a multitude of indications. Preclinical and clinical data are both available for individual areas of application, which include the following:

• Nausea and vomiting (e.g. travel sickness, morning sickness or post-operative nausea)
• Functional gastrointestinal complaints
• Inflammatory processes (e.g. in osteoarthritis, as a supplement to standard therapy)
• Cold symptoms
• Muscular and menstrual pain

Manifestations of cardiovascular effects, relating to lipid parameters or circulation, for example, are being discussed, but such effects should be regarded as supplementary rather than substitutive.

Preparations and dosage forms

Ginger is available in various preparations and dosage forms, some of which differ considerably with respect to active ingredient profile and content:

• Fresh or dried drug (e.g. in the form of tea or infusion)
• Powdered drug in solid dosage forms
• Liquid extracts and tinctures (aqueous or alcoholic)
• Medicinal teas (ginger alone or combinations)
• Essential ginger oil for external use
• Finished medicinal products, especially for the treatment of nausea

The variability of the preparations emphasises the importance of suitable analytical methods to ensure a consistent standard of quality.

Conclusion

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a medicinal plant with a complex spectrum of active ingredients and an extensive range of applications. Primary importance must be attached to the identification and quantification of quality-relevant constituents in order to obtain reliable quality appraisals of drugs, preparations and finished medicinal products containing ginger. Valid analytical methods and appropriate reference standards are required for this, especially for gingerols and shogaols.