Medicinal Properties of Zingiber officinale

Abstract

Zingiber officinale stands in the family Zingiberaceae. Ginger has rich phytochemistry plays a very pivotal role in health promotion. This research is aimed to review the current evidence on the various medicinal properties of ginger. Ginger is known to exert a wide range of pharmacological as well as physiological activities. Since time immemorable, it has been in use for the medicaments of various illnesses, like colds, headache, sore throat, migraines, hypertension, arthritis. Owing to this, this plant's pharmacological and medicinal properties have been a popular topic of review and research. This herb shows several puissant preventive and therapeutic actions and finds its extensive usage for ages to the present day for numerous ailments. Ginger exhibits potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, which help decrease swelling, pain, and inflammation. One of the known and the most frequent usage of ginger has been to relieve the patients of nausea and vomiting. Ginger works as an antiemetic and is recommended to prevent sea sickness and motion sickness. It relieves motion sickness more effectively than specific drugs. Zingiber officinale has been identified to reduce pain. Ginger powder plays an influential role in mitigating the symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea. Experimental studies have confirmed ginger’s role in reducing blood glucose levels improvement of hyperlipidemia. Ginger extract has been instrumental in reducing the structural abnormalities of heart in diabetic and helps improve the levels of serum apo, cathepsin G, leptin, Hcy and with anti oxidative effects of extract from ginger. Ginger supplementation enhances testosterone production in males, particularly in oxidative stress conditions.