Zingiber officinale (Adraka)
Introduction: Ginger holds a great importance all over the world from centuries. It has been used as culinary spice and also for medicinal purpose. Ginger has been used as medicines for the treatment of rheumatism, nervous diseases, gingivitis, toothache, asthma, stroke, constipation and diabetes and many others. It is considered to have diuretic, aphrodisiac, anti-emetic, anti-inflammatory activities. It is cultivated in Asia, West Africa, Caribbean and many other parts of the world. Major Chemical Constituents: [6]-, [8]-, [10]-gingerol, zingerone and [6]-shogaol are the major chemical constituents of Zingiber officinale. Pharmacological Actions Anti-emetic:1,2,3 Many studies have proved that ginger suppresses vomiting and is found to be superior dimenhydrinate in preventing motion sickness. The main active constituents working as the antiemetic in ginger were found to be gingerols and shogaols. One study was done on pregnant women and results showed that it reduces the symptoms of hyperemesis gravidarum (morning sickness). Portal Hypertension:4 Aqueous extract of Ginger and its phenolic constituents regulated portal hypertension, which is mediated through multiple pathways. Herb Drug interactions: 5,6 One of the studies showed that it might interfere with diabetes therapy, so it suggests that ginger should not be used in patients with diabetes mellitus. Another study showed that ginger and nifedipine have a synergistic effect on anti-platelet aggregation. Safety: Ginger is generally considered safe. For pregnant women, though it is considered safe, it may be prudent to avoid using either ginger or compounds extracted from ginger. Reference • Kawai T, Kinoshita K, Koyama K, Takahashi K, Anti-emetic principles of Magnolia obovata bark and Zingiber officinFale rhizome. Planta Medica 1994; 60:17 • Fischer-Rasmussen W, Kjaer SK, Dahl C, Asping U, Ginger treatment of hyperemesis gravidarum. European J Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Biology 1991; 38 (1): 19. • Willetts KE, Ekangaki A. and Eden JA., Effect of a ginger extract on pregnancy-induced nausea: A randomised controlled trial. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2003; 43: 139–144 • Vascular Pharmacology, Cardiovascular effects of ginger aqueous extract and its phenolic constituents are mediated through multiple pathways Vol. 43, (4), 234-241, 2005. • Miller LG., Herbal medicinals: selected clinical considerations focusing on known or potential drug-herb interactions. Arch Intern Med. 1998 Nov 9; 158 (20): 2200-11. • Badreldin H. Ali, Gerald Blunden, Musbah O. Tanira, Abderrahim Nemmar. Some phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological properties of ginger (Zingiber offcinale Roscoe): A review of recent research. Food and Chemical Toxicology. 2008; 46: 409–420 • Marcus, D.M., Snodgrass, W.R., Do no harm: avoidance of herbal medicines during pregnancy. Obstet. Gynecol. 2005; 105: 1119–1122.