The anti-inflammatory properties of ginger have been known and valued for centuries. During the past 25 years, many laboratories have provided scientific support for the long-held belief that ginger contains constituents with antiinflammatory properties. The original discovery of ginger's inhibitory effects on prostaglandin biosynthesis in the early 1970s has been repeatedly confirmed. This discovery identified ginger as an herbal medicinal product that shares pharmacological properties with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Ginger suppresses prostaglandin synthesis through inhibition of cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2. An important extension of this early work was the observation that ginger also suppresses leukotriene biosynthesis by inhibiting 5-lipoxygenase. This pharmacological property distinguishes ginger from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. This discovery preceded the observation that dual inhibitors of cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase may have a better therapeutic profile and have fewer side effects than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The characterization of the pharmacological properties of ginger entered a new phase with the discovery that a ginger extract (EV.EXT.77) derived from Zingiber officinale (family Zingiberaceae) and Alpina galanga (family Zingiberaceae) inhibits the induction of several genes involved in the inflammatory response. These include genes encoding cytokines, chemokines, and the inducible enzyme cyclooxygenase-2. This discovery provided the first evidence that ginger modulates biochemical pathways activated in chronic inflammation. Identification of the molecular targets of individual ginger constituents provides an opportunity to optimize and standardize ginger products with respect to their effects on specific biomarkers of inflammation. Such preparations will be useful for studies in experimental animals and humans.

BACKGROUND: The satiating properties of fat remain poorly understood, particularly with reference to its physicochemical characteristics. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the short-term effects of consumption of yoghurt containing either a novel fat emulsion or normal milk fat, on the energy and macronutrient intakes of non-obese subjects. DESIGN: Two double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subject crossover studies were conducted three months apart. Twenty-nine (15 F, 14 M) and thirty (16 F, 14 M) subjects participated in Study 1 and Study 2 respectively. In each study, subjects were given in random order, 7 days apart, either a 200 g portion of a test (5 g of a novel fat emulsion 1 g milk fat) or control (6 g milk fat) yoghurt at 1300 h. At 4 h post-consumption subjects were given ad libitum access to a range of foods. Amounts of food consumed by individuals were determined by pre-and post-covert weighing of individual serving dishes. RESULTS: Mean energy intakes were signi®cantly lower after the test yoghurt compared with the control yoghurt in Study 1 (6.4 vs 7.6 MJ; P`0.001), Study 2 (6.9 vs 7.9 MJ; P`0.001), and for both studies combined (6.7 vs 7.7 MJ; P`0.001). The corresponding fat intakes in Study 1, Study 2 and in the combined studies were all signi®cantly reduced (P`0.001). Protein and carbohydrate intakes were also signi®cantly reduced in Study 1 (P`0.05), Study 2 (P`0.01), and for the combined studies (P`0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the physicochemical characteristics of small amounts of dietary fat affect short-term satiety.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and prostaglandin (PG)E-2 play a critical role in the pathophysiology of arthritis. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha mediates induction of other cytokines, COX-2, PGs, and metalloproteinases, which leads to cartilage degradation. We developed an in vitro human synoviocyte assay system for screening inhibitors of proinflammatory mediators in herbal extracts. Synoviocytes (5 x 10(5) cells/well) obtained during primary knee replacement from osteoarthritic patients were incubated with: control media alone or ginger extract (hydroxy-methoxy-phenyl compounds [HAPC]: EV.EXT 77), 1 h before activation with 1 ng/ml TNF-alpha, 10 ng/ml interleukin-1beta, or control media alone at 5% carbon dioxide, 37 degrees C. Cell viability, TNF-alpha, COX-2, PGE-2, nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB), and inhibitory subunit I kappa B-alpha (IkappaB-alpha) expression were analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, electrophoretic mobility shift assay, and Western blots. Ginger extract-HAPC (100 microg/ml) significantly inhibited the activation of TNF-alpha and COX-2 expression in human synoviocytes as well as suppressed production of TNF-alpha and PGE-2. Inhibition of TNF-alpha and COX-2 activation was accompanied by suppression of NF-kappaB and IkappaB-alpha induction. Using our in vitro assay, we discovered that the ginger extract blocks activation of proinflammatory mediators and its transcriptional regulator suggesting its mode of action. These observations indicate that ginger extract-HAPC offers a complementary and alternative approach to modulate the inflammatory process involved in arthritis.

The findings suggest that GE may be useful in delaying the onset and the progression of neurodegenerative disorders involving chronically activated microglial cells in the central nervous system.

The present study demonstrates that GE inhibits chemokine expression, and that the combination of ZO and AG components acts synergistically. This ginger formulation may be useful for suppressing inflammation due to arthritis.

▲Clinical, biometric and ultrasound assessment of the effects of daily use of a nutraceutical composed of lycopene, acerola extract, grape seed extract and Biomarine Complex in photoaged human skin * Avaliações clínica, biométrica e ultrassonográfica dos efeitos do uso diário de um nutracêutico a base de licopeno, extrato de acerola, extrato de semente de uva e Complexo Biomarinho na pele fotoenvelhecida humana Abstract: BACKGROUND: The use of nutraceuticals has become frequent in the cutaneous approach to photoaging. OBJECTIVES: To assess the clinical efficacy of a nutraceutical product composed of lycopene, acerola extract, grape seed extract and Biomarine ComplexT in photoaged human skin. METHODS: 50 women, from 35 to 60 years of age, phototypes I to III, were assessed. For 120 days, they associated the nutraceutical product with the use of a sunscreen FPS15. On days 0 (D0), 30 (D30), 60 (D60), 90 (D90) and 120 (D120) they were evaluated and underwent Medical Assessments and Self-Assessment and cutaneous biometric analyses (corneometry, sebumetry and pH-metry) in the skin of the left zygomatic region and the upper medial side region of the left arm; on days 0 (D0), 30 (D30) and 120 (D120) the skin of the same regions was analyzed by ultrasound. On days 0 (D0) and 120 (D120) skin biopsies were performed in the areas where instrumental evaluation was performed (to evaluate collagen and elastic fibers). RESULTS: There was an improvement of the general status of the skin of all volunteers by the Medical and Volunteer Self-Assessments; increased parameters of cutaneous hydration, reduction of pH, increasing of ultrasound density and a histological increment of collagen and elastic fibers (both on the face and arm); there was a reduction of seborrhea (only on the face) CONCLUSIONS: The daily use of a nutraceutical product containing lycopene, acerola extract, grape seed extract and Biomarine ComplexT showed an important adjuvant effect to counteract skin photoaging. Keywords: Ascorbic acid; Dietary supplements; Skin aging Resumo: FUNDAMENTOS: O uso de nutracêuticos se tornou uma condição frequente na abordagem cutânea do fotoenvelhecimento. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a eficácia clínica do uso de um produto nutracêutico a base de licopeno, extrato de acerola, extrato de semente de uva e Complexo BiomarinhoT na pele fotoenvelhecida humana. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliadas 50 mulheres, de 35 a 60 anos de idade, fototipo I a III. Por 120 dias, elas associaram ao uso de fotoprotetor FPS15 a tomada diária do produto nutracêutico em questão. Nos dias 0 (D0), 30 (D30), 60 (D60), 90 (D90) e 120 (D120) elas foram avaliadas, quando sofreram Avaliações Médica e Auto-Avaliação e análises biométricas cutâneas (corneometria, sebumetria e pHmetria) nas peles da região zigomática esquerda e face súpero-medial do braço esquerdos; nos dias 0 (D0), 30 (D30) e 120 (D120) a pele das mesmas regiões foram analisadas do ponto de vista ultrassonográfico. Nos dias 0 (D0) e 120 (D120) biópsias cutâneas foram realizadas nas respectivas áreas das análises inst...

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