Ginger

Synonyms: Zingiber, Zingiberis Rhizoma

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Biological source

Botanical name: Zingiber officinale

Part used: dried scraped or unscraped rhizome

Family: Zingiberaceae

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Geographical source

• Probably native of south east asia.
• Commercially grown in Africa, China, India, Nepal and Jamaica.

Macroscopical features

Color: buff colored

Odor: agreeable and aromatic

Taste: pleasantly pungent and aromatic

Shape: irregularly flattened

Size: 5-15 cm long, 1.5-6.5 cm wide and 1-1.5 cm thick

Other features:

• Laterally compressed
• Ovate oblique branches on the upper side each branch having depressed scar.
• Fracture is short and fibrous

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Microscopical features

• Outer cork consist of irregular paranchymatous cells which are dark brown in color. Inner is colorless, parenchymatous and arranged in radial rows.
• Phellogen indistinct.
• Cortex contains thin walled rounded parennchymatous cells with intercellular spaces with abundant starch grains. Numerous yellowish brown oleoresin present along with fibrovascular bundles.
• Endodermis is distinct
• Just below endodermis lies a narrow zone of vascular bundle which is not covered by sclerenchymatous fibres.The ground tissue contain large parenchymatous cells rich in starch,oleoresin and fibrovascular bundles.

Chemical constituents

• Contain 1-2 % volatile oil and 5-8% resinous matter, starch and mucilage.
• The pungency of ginger is due to gingerol. Less pungent components like gingerone and shogaol are also present.
• Important compound in the volatile oil include zingiberol, and zingiberene. Other components are beta phellandrene, alpha pinene, camphene, borneol etc

Zingiberene

Uses

• Antiemetic, positive ionotropic, spasmolytic, aromatic stimulant, carminative, condiment and flavoring agent.
• Used in the treatment of dyspepsia, flatulence, vomiting, diarrhea and other stomach complaints.
• Also used for sore throat.
• Gives excellent relief for cough and asthma.