Ginger From Ancient Times to the New Outlook

Abstract

Context:Ginger is the rhizome of Zingiber officinale, a perennial plant, used alone or in compounds as a spice or remedy in ancient recipes of Iranian traditional medicine (ITM) as an effective tonic for the memory and digestive system, the opener of hepatic obstructions, aphrodisiac, for expelling compact wind from stomach and intestines, diluting, desiccating and emollient of phlegmatic and compact humor sticking to body organs, stomach, intestine, brain and throat. The ITM scholars believed that ginger was a vermifuge as well as a remedy for paralysis and obstructive jaundice. They also revealed that this phytomedicine cures diarrhea due to corrupted food. This study aimed to compare the medicinal properties (afaal) of ginger in ITM with those indicated in modern research. Results: Results of this study showed that the modern phytotherapy confirmed some of the properties of ginger. In addition, some of the properties of this phytomedicine have not been studied yet. Conclusions: By studding the ITM literature, herb elements or in other words ITM keywords, researchers can predict and state some unknown or less known potential pharmacologic effects of medicinal plants.

The Protective Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Ginger) on Ethanol-Induced Reproductive Toxicity in Male Rats

“…Ginger has been traditionally used as a male reproductive organs enhancer through the world for a long time. 34 , 35 As a hot remedy, ginger has been mentioned in traditional Persian medicine resources such as Avicenna’s (980-1037 AD) 36 Canon of Medicine and The Storehouse of Medicaments (written in 1772 AD) 37 by Aghili Shirazi 38 – 40 to increase sexual energy, semen volume, and ejections. 35 , 41 It is also popular among western Ugandans to take ginger in tea for impotence.…”

6-gingerol interferes with amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide aggregation

“…Given the ancient history and cultural importance of ginger in many parts of the world (Iranshahy and Javadi, 2019;Khodaie and Sadeghpoor, 2015;Saenghong et al, 2012), it is desirable to understand the molecular mechanisms behind its proposed benefits to human health. Such mechanistic investigations may also expand ethnomedical research, which often focuses on population-level medical effects and exposure/uptake levels (Sholts et al, 2017;Wärmländer et al, 2011).…”

“…Ginger is a common ingredient in traditional healthy diets in many cultures (Iranshahy and Javadi, 2019;Khodaie and Sadeghpoor, 2015). According to Arabian folk wisdom, ginger improves memory and enhances cognition (Saenghong et al, 2012).…”

Spices and herbs as immune enhancers and anti-inflammatory agents: A review

“…In Ayurveda, ginger is used extensively for purposes including fighting heart disease, reducing cholesterol, and combating arthritis (Moghaddasi and Kashani, 2012). In Iranian traditional medicine, ginger has been used for improving kidney health, memory, and digestive system health (Khodaie and Sadeghpoor, 2015).…”