ZINGIBER OFFICINALIS DRY [ADARAK]

Common Name : Adrak
Plant Parts Used : Rhizome

Description :
A herbaceous rhizornatous perennial, up to 90 cm in height when fully grown. The herb develops several lateral shoots in clumps. Leazies are 15-30 cm long and 2-3 cm broad, with sheathiiig bases, the blade gradually tapering to a point. The rhizomes are aromatic, thick lobed pale yellow, bearing simple alternate dlistichous narrow, oblong lanceolate leaves.

Characteristics and Constituents :
Ginger contains 1-2% volatile oil and 5-8% resinous matter,starch and mucilage. The oil of ginger is a mixture of over 24 constituents, consisting of monoterpenes (phellandrene, (+) carnphene, cineolc, citral and borneol) and sesquiterpenes etc (zingiberine, and bisabolene). The pungent component is gingerol-formed in the plant from phenylalaanine, nialoiiate and hexanoate. Minor constituents of an extract are gingreniols, methylgingediol, gingeryldiacetates and methyl gingediacetates.

Actions and Uses :
Anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenin-induced rat paw oedema has been shown. The active principles gingerol, and dehydrogingerdione and gingerdione were shown to be potent inhibitors of pr.ostaglandin synthesis - confirming the mechanism of anti-inflammatory effect. The antirheumatic effects were further confirmed by other inves- tigators.Antihistaminic activity has also been shown in vitroll. The plant inhibits the virion toxic factor production in infected chorioallantoin membrane and also inhibits the growth of W.M.- 25d malignant cell-line. Cardiac inotropic activity has been shown in, Dogs and guinea pigs. Ginger was shown to have significant antiemetic and antivertigo effects like dramamine.It has been lised effectively along with Piper nigrum and Piper longum in viral hepatitis. Ginger forms an important constituent of many ayurvedic formula- tions. It is chiefy used as a home remedy for nausea and dyspepsia.
With the recommended doses and the use as spice, side-effects are hardly reported. With large doses of some of the active principles CNS depression has been noted in animals.