Research Studies
Recent Research into the Medicinal Properties of Zingiber cassumunar
J Ethnopharmacol. 2003 Aug;87(2-3):143-8
Anti-inflammatory activity of (E)-1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl) butadiene from Zingiber cassumunar Roxb.
Jeenapongsa R, Yoovathaworn K, Sriwatanakul KM, Pongprayoon U, Sriwatanakul K.
Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Naresuan University, Muang, 65000, Phitsanulok, Thailand. rattimaj@yahoo.com
This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of (E)-1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl) butadiene (DMPBD), isolated from Zingiber cassumunar Roxb., using in vivo and in vitro models. The results show that DMPBD dose-dependently inhibited the rat ear edema induced by ethyl phenylpropiolate (EPP), arachidonic acid (AA) and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) and it was more potent than any other standard drugs being used. In EPP-induced edema IC(50) of DMPBD and oxyphenbutazone were 21 and 136nmol per ear, respectively. The IC(50) of DMPBD and phenidone were 60 and 2520nmol per ear, respectively, in AA-induced edema whereas DMPBD was 11 times more potent than diclofenac in TPA-induced edema (IC(50)=660 and 7200pmol per ear, respectively). DMPBD and diclofenac inhibited the rat paw edema induced by carrageenan but not by platelet activating factor (PAF). In in vitro study DMPBD, aspirin and phenidone inhibited collagen-induced platelet aggregation with IC(50) of 0.35, 0.43 and 0.03mM, respectively. Whereas IC(50) of these agents in ADP, AA and PAF inductions were 4.85, 3.98 and 1.30mM; 0.94, 0.13 and 0.04mM; and 1.14, 6.96 and 2.40mM, respectively. These results indicate that DMPBD possesses a potent anti-inflammatory activity through the inhibition of CO and LO pathways and seems to have more prominent effects on the LO pathway.
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Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 2005 Nov;53(11):1466-8.
Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitory phenylbutenoids from the rhizomes of Zingiber cassumunar.
Han AR, Kim MS, Jeong YH, Lee SK, Seo EK.
College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea.
Phenylbutenoids isolated previously from the CHCl3 extracts of the rhizomes of Zingiber cassumunar, were evaluated for their cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitory activity along with a new isolate, from the n-BuOH extracts of this plant. The COX-2 inhibitory assay was performed by measuring prostaglandin E2 production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. Two phenylbutenoid dimers, and, exhibited considerable activity with IC50 values of 2.71 and 3.64 microM. Two phenylbutenoid monomers, and, showed moderate activity (IC50 14.97, 20.68 microM, respectively). The other three phenylbutenoids, were found to be inactive. Compound was elucidated as a new phenylbutenoid glycoside, namely, (E)-4-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)but-3-en-1-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside by spectral analysis including various 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments.
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Ginger--An Herbal Medicinal Product With Broad Anti-Inflammatory Actions
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.
anti inflammatory, inflammatory drugs, this discovery, that ginger, family zingiberaceae, observation that, pharmacological properties, steroidal anti, ginger, inflammatory, discovery, properties, cyclooxygenase, drugs, pharmacological, effects
Authored by Grzanna R, Lindmark L, Frondoza CG. RMG Biosciences, Inc.
Published in J Med Food. 2005 Summer;8(2):125-32.
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Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 1991 Sep;39(9):2353-6.
Anti-inflammatory effect of Zingiber cassumunar Roxb. and its active principles.
Ozaki Y, Kawahara N, Harada M.
Division of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, National Institute of Hygienic Sciences, Tokyo, Japan.
The present study was carried out to elucidate the anti-inflammatory effect of the methanol extract obtained from the rhizomes of Zingiber cassumunar Roxb. and its active principles. The methanol extract was partitioned between ether and water, and then the ether-soluble fraction was extracted with n-hexane. The n-hexane-soluble fraction was chromatographed and part of the fraction was rechromatographed by silica gel column. Three compounds were isolated from the n-hexane-soluble fraction and the chemical structures of these compounds were identified as (E)-1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)but-1-ene, (E)-1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)butadiene and zerumbone. The anti-inflammatory activity of these fractions was investigated on carrageenin-induced edema in rats, as well as on acetic acid-induced vascular permeability and writhing symptoms in mice. The methanol extract (p.o.) showed both anti-inflammatory activity and analgesic activity. These activities shifted successively to ether-soluble and n-hexane-soluble fractions and to (E)-1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)but-1-ene. These results suggest that the anti-inflammatory action and analgesic action of Zingiber cassumunar is the result of the (E)-1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)but-1-ene that it contains.
The effects of Zintona EC (a ginger extract) on symptomatic gonarthritis.
Wigler I, Grotto I, Caspi D, Yaron M.
Department of Rheumatology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, and Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the effect of a ginger extract (Zintona EC) on patients suffering from gonarthritis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-nine patients (6 men and 23 women) with symptomatic gonarthritis (ACR criteria), in the age range 42-85 years, were included after randomization in a double blind, placebo controlled, crossover study of 6 months' duration. The treatment group was given a ginger extract (250 mg of Zingiberis Rhizoma per capsule, qid), while the placebo group received the same number of identical looking capsules per day. The crossover occurred after 3 months of therapy. Results were evaluated by a 100mm visual analog scale (VAS) of pain on movement and of handicap. RESULTS: Eight patients dropped out because of inefficacy, three from group 1 (ginger extract first) and five from group 2 (placebo first). One patient from group 1 and one from group 2 dropped out because of heartburn (while they were on ginger extract). Twenty patients completed the study period of 24 weeks and 19 that of 48 weeks follow-up. By the end of 24 weeks there was a highly statistically significant difference between the VAS of pain and handicap of the two groups (P<0.001). However, at crossover both groups showed a statistically significant decrease in VAS of pain on movement and of handicap, but the differences between the groups did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Zintona EC was as effective as placebo during the first 3 months of the study, but at the end of 6 months, 3 months after crossover, the ginger extract group showed a significant superiority over the placebo group.
Publication Types:
J Environ Pathol Toxicol Oncol. 2004;23(3):227-36
Erratum in: J Environ Pathol Toxicol Oncol. 2004;23(4):viii-ix.Sulfur free radical reactivity with curcumin as reference for evaluating antioxidant properties of medicinal zingiberales.
Chirangini P, Sharma GJ, Sinha SK.
Department of Life Sciences, Manipur University, Imphal, India.
Rhizome extracts of some members of the medicinal Zingiberales are widely used in dietary intake as well as in the traditional system of medicine. Curcumin, the chrome orange-yellow coloring compound present in turmeric rhizomes, has long been known to possess antioxidant property. Crude methanol extracts of the rhizomes of 11 species--Alpinia allughas, A. galanga, Curcuma amada, C. caesia, C. leucorrhiza, Hedychium coronarium, H. coccineum, H. flavescens, Kaempferia galanga, Zingiber cassumunar, and Z. officinale--were evaluated for their antioxidant properties using sulfur free radical reactivity with curcumin as a reference indicator. Sulfur free radicals (GS.) are generated by irradiating 15 mM glutathione (GSH) solution using a 5100 Ci cobalt-60 gamma irradiator. As reference indicator for the reactivity with sulfur free radicals, we used the depletion of pure curcumin sample in vitro as determined by a simple spectrophotometric method. The addition of the supernatant from crude rhizome extracts to the reaction mixture significantly decreased the depletion of curcumin, indicating that these crude extracts possessed antioxidant properties. The relative curcumin protection by different crude extracts against GS. showed that Z. cassumunar gave the highest degree of radioprotection. Our results reveal the potential medicinal use of rhizomes of medicinal Zingiberales as dietary agents.
Effects of a ginger extract on knee pain in patients with osteoarthritis.
Altman RD, Marcussen KC
Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center and University of Miami, Florida, USA.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a standardized and highly concentrated extract of 2 ginger species, Zingiber officinale and Alpinia galanga (EV.EXT 77), in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. METHODS: Two hundred sixty-one patients with OA of the knee and moderate-to-severe pain were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, parallel-group, 6-week study. After washout, patients received ginger extract or placebo twice daily, with acetaminophen allowed as rescue medication. The primary efficacy variable was the proportion of responders experiencing a reduction in "knee pain on standing," using an intent-to-treat analysis. A responder was defined by a reduction in pain of > or = 15 mm on a visual analog scale. RESULTS: In the 247 evaluable patients, the percentage of responders experiencing a reduction in knee pain on standing was superior in the ginger extract group compared with the control group (63% versus 50%; P = 0.048). Analysis of the secondary efficacy variables revealed a consistently greater response in the ginger extract group compared with the control group, when analyzing mean values: reduction in knee pain on standing (24.5 mm versus 16.4 mm; P = 0.005), reduction in knee pain after walking 50 feet (15.1 mm versus 8.7 mm; P = 0.016), and reduction in the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis composite index (12.9 mm versus 9.0 mm; P = 0.087). Change in global status and reduction in intake of rescue medication were numerically greater in the ginger extract group. Change in quality of life was equal in the 2 groups. Patients receiving ginger extract experienced more gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events than did the placebo group (59 patients versus 21 patients). GI adverse events were mostly mild. CONCLUSION: A highly purified and standardized ginger extract had a statistically significant effect on reducing symptoms of OA of the knee. This effect was moderate. There was a good safety profile, with mostly mild GI adverse events in the ginger extract group.
PMID: 11710709 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
J Ethnopharmacol. 2007 Feb 12;109(3):535-8. Epub 2006 Aug 15.
Anti-allergic activity of some selected plants in the Zingiberaceae family.
Tewtrakul S, Subhadhirasakul S,
Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Prince of Songkla University, Hat-Yai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand. supinyat@yahoo.com
Ethanolic and water extracts, together with volatile oils from the rhizomes of six selected Zingiberaceous plants, including Curcuma mangga, Kaempferia galanga, Kaempferia parviflora, Zingiber cassumunar, Zingiber officinale and Zingiber zerumbet were investigated for their anti-allergic activities using a RBL-2H3 cell line. The ethanolic (EtOH) extract of Kaempferia parviflora exhibited the most potent anti-allergic effect against antigen-induced beta-hexosaminidase release as a marker of degranulation in RBL-2H3 cells, with an IC(50) value of 10.9 microg/ml, followed by Zingiber cassumunar (EtOH, IC(50)=12.9 microg/ml) and Curcuma mangga (water, IC(50)=36.1 microg/ml). The volatile oils of these six plants were apparently inactive (IC(50)>100 microg/ml). The crude extracts were also tested on beta-hexosaminidase activity to clarify whether their effects were due to the inhibition of enzyme activity or of degranulation. As a result, the plant extracts were inactive against the enzyme activity of beta-hexosaminidase. These findings support the use in Thai traditional medicine of these selected Zingiberaceous plants, especially Kaempferia parviflora and Zingiber cassumunar, for treatment of allergy and allergic-related diseases.
