AGRICULTURE & FOOD: e-Newsletter Volume 1 – Issue 4 – April 2019

http://www.agrifoodmagazine.co.in ISSN: 2581-8317

The pharmaceutical, insecticidal and antioxidant properties of Ginger

Article id: 11128
Dickson Adoma1* Paul Appiah Sekyereb2 Abigail Addoc2
*a. Department of Educational Innovations in Science and Technology, Kwame Nkrumah University of
Science and Technology, Ghana, E-mail: adomdick2@gmail.com, Tel: +233508149965
b. Department of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana, E-mail:
ksekyerepaul@gmail.com, Tel: +233209065883
c. Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology,
Ghana, E-mail: abidoboat@gmail.com, Tel: 233246665245

Abstract
Ginger is one of the important stems and one of the most traded spices in the world. Ginger has
antibacterial and antifungal properties with great potentials in fighting against common vegetable pests.
Medically, ginger is resilient in combating life-threatening diseases such as nausea, cancer as well as
kidney, intestinal, skin and gastric diseases. This review paper discusses the pharmaceutical, insecticidal
and antioxidant properties of this great rhizome. It also reveals the physical and chemical properties of
ginger. Desk study and document analysis were the main research methods adopted for the study. The
steps in the Interpretive Document Analysis were used for analyzing the data and drawing valid
conclusions. The findings reveal that ginger extracts have proven to be beneficial in offering medicinal,
insecticidal and anti-oxidant values to humans, animals and plants. It recommends that plant scientists
should advocate the mass production and use of this vital rhizome in medical delivery as well as in
agricultural production to aid boost the life sustainability ratio of humans, crops and animals.

Keywords: ginger, plant science, agriculture, herbal medicine, pharmaceutical products

1. Introduction (Kumar, Asish, Sabu & Balachandran, 2013;

The famous eighteenth-century Swedish botanist Aljahawey, Soeharto & Sujuti, 2015) and as such,
and general naturalist, Carl Linnaeus coined has been featured as a constant spice in cuisines
Zingiber officinale, as the botanical name of (Ajav & Ogunlade, 2014). Ginger holds beneficial
ginger (Tanner, 1959). Ginger is native to properties fighting against the symptoms of
Southeast Asia but it is now cultivated in all the diseases and acting as an anti-inflammatory, anti-
tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world tumour and anti-bacterial agent (Mesomo,
(Priebe, 2011). Presently, ginger is grown on a Scheer, Perez, Ndiaye & Corazza, 2012). This
large scale in India, China, Southeast Asia, West review paper gives thoroughly discusses the
Indies, Africa, and Australia. Almost half of the physical and chemical compositions of ginger as
world’s production comes from India. Other well as its pharmaceutical, insecticidal and anti-
countries that produce ginger extensively are oxidant properties.
Brazil, Jamaica, Nigeria, Thailand, Australia and
Fiji (Heinrich, Barnes & Gibbons, 2004). Ginger
has a long historical use in ethnomedicine

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1.1 Physical Composition of Ginger constituting about 50%. It is also made up of

About 1600 species of plants are placed in the about 6%-8 lipids and about 2.5%-3% essential
family Zingiberaceae (Kumar et al., 2013). Ginger oils .Other components found in ginger are alfa-
which is a perennial plant has a narrow stem pinene, beta-pinene, cumene, camphene,
which tallness is about 24-39 inches (Ajav & myrcene, limonene, beta-phell-andrene, linalool,
Ogunlade, 2014). The underground stem borneol, farnsene and sabinene. The aroma of
(rhizome) of ginger is the most familiar part of ginger is mainly due to the presence of zingiberol
the plant and it is frequently used for commercial (Prasad & Tyagi, 2015). The essential oil of fresh
as well as homely purposes. Rhizome of ginger is ginger contains geranial (alfa-citral and neral
fleshy, covered in rings and also covered with beta-citral) and thus emits a lemony aroma while
some rounded projections or knobs (Aidoo, the presence of cineole gives a camphoraceous
2010). This part (rhizome) is used as food and smell to ginger oil. Vitamins, amino acids and
medicine. Rhizomes grow underground but they protease made up of other chemicals such as
are not roots but stem. About 30 cm long purple cineole, dihydrogingerol (bitter principle),
flowers emerge vertically from the rhizomes. The hexahydrocurcumin gingiberene, zingiberol
surface of the rhizome is greyish white and bears (fragrant principle) are also found in ginger. The
some light-brownish rings. It has an aroma and a oil content of ginger is said to be responsible for
sharp spicy flavor due to the oily substance called its fragrance and its pungency is determined by
gingerol (Ajav & Ogunlade, 2014). It has an aerial the non-volatile phenylpropanoids and
erect leafy stem which grows from the tuberous diarylheptanoids (Ampomah, 2009). Gingerol and
rhizome (Sharma, Yelve & Dennis, 2002). Ginger shogaol, a chemical constituent of ginger is said
possess leaves that are lance narrow dark green to be responsible for the pungency of ginger. The
in colour, with a rib which is noticeable The pungent compounds were assigned as
inflorescence of ginger is a terminal spike with homologous series of phenolic ketones (Yadav et
irregular flowers which are white, yellow or al., 2012).
greenish-yellow in colour with a purplish lip,
however cultivated ginger barely flowers 1.3 Pharmaceutical Properties of Ginger
(Pizzorno & Murray, 2012). Although ginger can Ginger has rich phytochemistry properties with
be grown domestically by planting its rhizome in health promoting potentials (Butt & Sultan,
soils such as mixed loam, sand, peat moss and 2011). Ginger is also said to carry certain
compost with sufficient amount of sunlight and pharmaceutical properties which assist in
water, the preferred habitat for the cultivation of digestion and treat digestion related
ginger is one with a moist and hot soil with complications such as diarrhea and stomach
shade. Ginger also prefers soil that is well tilled cramps. Essential oils contained in the tuberous
and rich in loam (Herbs, 2000). rhizome of ginger have been used as medicine
since early times. Ginger is effective against
1.2 Chemical Composition of Ginger nausea pains arthritis, rheumatism, muscle
Yadav, Rai1, Vermal and Rajee (2012) posit that spasms and reduces inflammation that results in
there are a number of compounds that have gouts and other neurodegenerative disorders
been isolated from ginger. These compounds are (Nicoll & Henein, 2009). It also assists in the
over 400 (Prasad & Tyagi, 2015). Some of them circulation of blood, removal of toxins, cleans the
are starch which is a major component bowels and kidneys and also aids in all skin

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related problems (Ampomah, 2009). Ginger is

said to be a good remedy in the treatment of 1.4 Insecticidal Properties of Ginger
asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory Modest antibacterial, antifungal and
problems (Butt & Sultan, 2011). molluscicidal effects have been reported in
ginger. It has also been reported that ginger
Ginger is known for retarding the growth of possesses anti-rhino viral activity due to the
cancer forming cells. Butt and Sultan (2011) aver compound sesquiterpenes (Yadav et al., 2012).
that ginger acts as an anti-cancer agent, and Extracts from ginger have been broadly studied
offers a stronger buffer against colon, lung, skin, for a wide range of biological activities and
gastric and breast cancers (Prasad & Tyagi, 2015). among these are its antibacterial, anti-fungal, and
The plant medicine research conducted by Khaki, other activities. Ginger has been found to contain
Khaki, Hajhosseini, Golzar and Ainehchi (2014) strong anti-bacterial and to some extent anti-
revealed that ginger had the healing potential in fungal properties. An in-vitro study conducted
curing diabetes in rats that is often associated revealed that the active constituents of ginger
with reproductive dysfunction. inhibited multiplication of colon bacteria. It is
also said to inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli
Ginger rhizome which is sweet and pungent also and Salmonella (Gugnani & Ezenuwanze, 1985).
helps to prevent the formation of gases in the
gastrointestinal tract (carminative), reduces Different scientists have reported the antifungal
profuse perspiration (diaphoretic), promote the (Hasan, Chowdhury, Alam, Hossain & Alam,
production of urine( diuretic), anti-spasmodic, 2005), antimicrobial and insecticidal properties of
anti-emetic, antithrombotic, antimicrobial, ginger (Ukeh, 2008). An example is a survey that
analgesic, anti-aggregant, anti-leukotriene, anti- was conducted in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, to determine
cancer, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti- the local medicinal uses of ginger. The fungicidal
prostaglandin, anti-ulcer (Duke, 2002). Normon properties of ginger rhizome extract were also
(1994) reveals that ginger rhizome is anti- evaluated. The result revealed 70%, 71% and
mutagenic, stimulant, peripheral vasodilator, 64.2% growth inhibition of ginger on Fusarium
antiseptic, anti-platelet, anti-pyretic, anti- spp., Colletotrichum spp. and Curvularia spp
serotoninergic, hypouricemic, anti-depressant, respectively (Krishnapillai, 2007). Again, Insect
hepato- and hypoglycaemic. Ginger also has a growth inhibition, antifeedent and antifungal
stimulating effect on the flow of saliva, raises the activity of compounds isolated/derived from
tonus of the intestinal musculature, triggers Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Ginger) rhizomes were
peristalsis, promotes gastric secretion and tested. Compounds exhibited moderate IGR
minimizes cholesterol levels. Ginger in it dried activity and antifeedant activity against
state is also said to be emollient, appetizer, Spilosomaobliqua and antifungal activity against
laxative, stomachic, stimulant, anodyne, Rhizoctonia solani. Dehydroshogalol showed
aphrodisiac, and anthelmintic (Sharma et al., maximum IGR activity and dehydrozingerone
2002). The herbal therapeutic benefits of ginger showed maximum antifungal activity (Agarwal,
are due to the presence of volatile oils and its Walia, Dhingra & Khamba, 2001).
high oleoresin content.
Another experiment was carried out to examine
the efficacy of some plant extracts for the control

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of yam tuber rot caused by Fusarium oxysporum, than the antioxidant properties present in red
Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus using hot cabbage, lemon balm, red leaf lettuce, purple
water extraction from the leaves and seed of cauliflower and garlic.
Xylopia aethiopica and Zingiber officinale. The 2. Conclusion
results discovered the toxicity of the two extracts Ginger is one of the important stems cultivated in
against the fungi. It was revealed that these the world. They have antibacterial and antifungal
extracts subdued the growth of these fungi in effects that make them great potentials to be
culture and minimized rot development in yam used as pesticides against common vegetable
tubers (Okigbo & Nmeka, 2005). pests inhibiting their growth. Medically, ginger
Antioxidant Values of Ginger fights against kidney diseases, nausea, intestinal
Ginger has been discovered as a high and and gastric diseases as well as many skin
powerful antioxidant food. Its antioxidant diseases. This is a great enlightenment to
properties that aid in fighting various diseases are botanists, herbal experts and agriculturists on the
noted to be evident more in its roots. El-Sayed, great values of ginger. Major efforts must be
Saadiya, Medhat and Abdel (2013) conducted an taken by governments and corporate agencies to
assay test with water, ethanol and acetone and assist farming communities with suitable planting
they realized that acetone was the best ginger weather conditions for ginger across the world to
extract recording the highest antioxidant undertake ginger farming due to its diverse
potentials. The ORAC value of the antioxidant benefits
elements of ginger is exactly 14840. This is higher
.

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