The Benefits of the Use of Ginger in Herbal Preparations

Ginger is universally loved for its pungency. The first attempt to dissect this pungency or spiciness was the work of Thresh in 1879.⁷ He isolated an oily-resinous substance, comprising approximately 5 to 10 percent of the plant, and gave it the name ginerol.⁸This oleoresin has since been broken down into close to thirty elements. Ginger also includes a macro/ micro nutrient category which encompasses proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and all the known vitamins, minerals and trace nutrients of ginger. Unlike many other herbs or spices, fresh or green ginger has a history of being consumed as a vegetable⁹and does possess considerable levels of nutrients like potassium, phosphorous, vitamin C and riboflavin.

One of the many synergistic compounds found in ginger is the enzyme called zingibain. Zingibain is a powerful protein-digesting enzyme that is comparable to papain from papaya and bromelain from pineapple. What is interesting is not so much the enzyme itself, but its potency. It comprises as much as 2 percent of the fresh rhizome. Ginger is one of nature’s richest sources of proteolytic enzymes.

Below is a list of constituents which combines the monumental works of botanist James Duke of the United States Department of Agriculture, and Norman Fransworth, Research Professor at the University of Illinois.¹⁰

ACTEALADEHYDE ACETONE

2-HEPTYL ACETATE ALANINE

2-NONYL ACETATE ALBUMIN

ALPHA-FENCHYL ACETATE ALLO-AROMADENDRENT

ACETIC-ACID ALLO-AROMADENDRINE

ALUMINUM D-BORNEOL

GAMA-AMINOBUTYRIC-ACID BORNEOL ACETATE

ALPHA-AMORPHENE (+)-BORNEOL

GAMA-AMORPHENE ISO-BORNEOL

ANGELICOIDENOL-2-0-BETA-D-GLUCOPYRANOSIDE

ARGININE BORNYL-ACETATE

ARMOADENDRENE BORON

AROMADENDRIN BETA-BOURBONNENE

ASCORBIC-ACID BUTANAL

ASH 2-MENTHYLBUTANAL

ASPARAGINE 3-METHYLBUTANAL

ASPARTIC-ACID 2-BUTANOL

BENZALDEHYDE SEC-BUTANOL

3-PHENYL BENZALDEHYDE TERT-BUTANOL

4-PHENYL BENZALDEHYDE 2-METHYL-BUT-3-EN-2-OL

ALPHA-BERGAMOTENE N-BUTYRALDEHYDE

TRANS-ALPHA-BERGAMOTENE ALPHA-CADINENE

BISABOLENE DELTA-CADINENE

ALPHA-BISABOLENE GAMMA-CADINENE

BETA-BISABOLENE ALPHA-CADINOL

CIS-GAMA-BISABOLENE 10-ALPHA-CADINOL

BETA-BISABOLOL CAFFEIC-ACID

BORNEOL CALAMENENE

CALCIUM 2-HYDROXY-1,8-CINEOL

CAMPHENE CITRAL

CAMPHENE-HYDRATE CITRONELLAL

CYCLOCOPACAMPHENE CITRONELLOL

CAMPHOR CITRONELLYL-ACETATE

CAPRIC-ACID COBALT CUBEBOL

CAPRYLIC-ACID CUMINYL ALCOHOL

CAPSAICIN DOCOSANE

CARBOHYDRATES EICOSANE

CAR-3-ENE HENICOSANE

DELTA-3-CARENE TRICOSANE

CARVOTANACETONE COPAENE

BETA-CAROTENE ALPHA-COPAENE

CARYOPHYLLENE COPPER

CARYOPHYLLENE OXIDE P-COUMARIC-ACID

BETA-CARYOPHYLLENE CRYPTONE

CEDROL CUMENE

CHAVICOL CUPARENE

CHLOROGENIC-ACID ALPHA-CURCUMENE

CHROMIUM (+)-ALPHA-CURCUMENE

CINEOLE AR-CURCUMENE

1,4-CINEOLE BETA-CURCUMENE

1,8-CINEOLE CURCUMIN

HEXAHYDROCURCUMIN

DEMETHYL-HEXAHYDRO-CURCUMIN

CYCLOSATIVENE

P-CYMENE

C-CYMEN-8-OL

CYSTEINE

CYSTINE

DECANAL N-DECANAL DODECANE HEPTADECANE

HEXADECANE

NONADECANE

OCTADECANE

PENTADECANE

TETRADECANE

TRIDECANE

UNDECANE

3-6-EXPOX-1-(4-HYDROXY-3-METHOXY-PHENYL) DECA-3-5-DIENE

3(R)-5(S)-DIACETOXY-1-(3-4-DI-METHOXY-PHENYL) DECANE

3(R)-5(S)-DIACETOXY-1-(4-HYDROXY-3-METHOXY-PHENYL) DECANE

3(R)-ACETOXY-5(S)-HYDROXY-1-(4-HYDROXY-3-METHOXY-PHENYL) DECANE

5(S)-3(R)-DIHYDROXY-1-(4-HYDROXY-3-METHOXY-PHENYL)DECANE

5(S)-ACETOXY-3(R)-HYDROXY-1-(4-HYDROXY-3-METHOXY-PHENYL)DECANE

DECYLALDEHYDE FARNESAL

6-DEHYDROGINGERDIONE FARNESENE

6,10-DEHYDROGINGERDIONE ALPHA-FARNESENE

10-DEHYDROGINGERDIONE TRANS-ALPHA-FARNESENE

6-DIHYDROGINGERDIONE BETA-FARNESENE

DELPHINIDIN TRANS-BETA-FARNESENE

DIETHYL-SULFIDE FARNESOL

DODECANOIC-ACID FAT

BETA-ELEMENE FERULIC-ACID

ELEMOL FIBER FLUORIDE

BETA-ELEMENE FLUORINE

DELTA-ELEMENE FRUCTOSE

GAMMA-ELEMENE FURANOGERMENONE

ELEMOL FURFURAL

SEESNTIAL OIL GADOLEIC-ACID

10-SPIZONARENE GALANOLACTONE

8-BETA-17-EPOXY-LABD-TRANS-12-ENE-15,16-DIAL

ETHYL-ACETATE GERANIAL

ETHYL-MYRISTATE CIS-GERANIC-ACID

ALPHA-EUDESMOL TRANS-GERANIC-ACID

BETA-EUDESMOL GERANIOL

GAMMA-EUDESMOL GERANIOL ACETATE

METHYL-ETHER-ISO-EUGENOL GERANYL-ACETATE

GERMACRENE B GINGERENONE-C

GERMACRENE D GINGERGLYCOLIPID-A

GERMANIUM GINGERGLYCOLIPID-B

GINGEDIACETATE GINGERGLYCOLIPID-C

4-GINGEDIACETATE GINGEROL

6-GINGEDIACETATE 3-GINGEROL

4-GINGEDIOL 4-GINGEROL

6-GINGEDIOL 5-GINGEROL

6-GINGEDIOL-ACETATE 6-GINGEROL

6-GINGEDIOL-ACETATE-METHYL-ETHER (+)-6-GINGEROL

6-GINGEDIOL- DIACETATE (S)(+)-6-GINGEROL

6-GINGEDIOL-DIACETATE-METHYL-ETHER 6-GINGEROL-METHYL

6-GINGEDIOL-METHYL-ETHER 7-GINEROL

8-GINGEDIOL 8-GINGEROL

10-GINGERDIOL 8-GINGEROL-METHYL

4-GINGERDIONE 9-GINGEROL

6-GINGERDIONE 10-GINGEROL

6-GINGERDIONE 10-GINGEROL-METHYL

8-GINGERDIONE 12-GINGEROL

10-GINGERDIONE 12-GINGEROL-METHYL

6-10-GINGERDIONE 14-GINGEROL

GINGERENONE-A 16-GINGEROL

GINGERENONE-B DIHYDRO-GINGEROL

GINGEROL-METHYL GLYOXAL

GINGEROL-METHYL-ETHER METHOXY GLYOXAL

GINGERONE GUAIOL

6-GINGESULFONIC ACID 6-METHYL-HEPT-5-EN-2-OL

GLANOLACTONE 6-MEHTYL-HEPT-5-EN-2-ONE

GLANOLACTONE CLOBULIN HEPTAN-2-OL

CLUCOSE HEPTAN-2-OL

GLUTAMIC-ACID HEPTAN-T-ONE

GLUTELIN HEPTANE

GLYCINE N-HEPTANE

2-2-4-TRIMETHYL-HEPTANE

3(S)-5(S)-DIACETOXY-1-(4’-HYDROXY-3’-5’-DIMETHOXY-PHENYL)-7-(4”-HYDROXY-3”-METHOXY-PHENYL) HEPTANE

3(S)-5(S)-DIHYDROXY-1-(4’-HYDROXY-3’-5’-DIMETHOXY-PHENYL)-7-(4”-HYDROXY-3”-METHOXY-PHENYL) HRPTANE

3-5-DIACETOXY-1-(4-HYDROXY-3-5-DIMETHOXT-PHENYL)-7-(4-HYDROXY-3-METHOXY-PHENYL) HEPTANE

3-5-DIACETOXY-1-7-BIS-(4-HYDROXY-3-METHOXY-PHENYL)MESO-HEPTANE

1-7-BIS-(4-HYDROXY-3-METHOXY-PHENYL) HEPTANE-3(S)-DIOL

METHYL-HEPTENONE

2-HEPTANONE

HEXANAL

2-HEXANONE

HEXAN-1-AL LEUCINE

HEXAN-1-OL ISOLEUCINE

HEXANOL LIMONENE

CIS-HEXAN-3-OL LINALOOL

TRANS-2-HEXENAL LINALLOL OXIDE

BETA-HIMACHALENE TRANS-LINALLOL-OXIDE

HISTIDINE LINALYL ACETATE

HUMULENE LINOLEIC-ACID

P-HYDROXYBENZOIC-ACID ALPHA-LINOLENIC-ACID

1-(4-HYDROXY-3-METHOXY PHENYL)-3,5-OCTANEDIOL

1-(4-HYDROXY-3-METHOXY PHENYL)-3,5-DIACETOXYOCTANE

BETA-IONONE LYSINE

IRON MAGNESIUM

ISOEUGENOL-METHYL-ETHER MANGANESE

ISOGINGERENONE-B 2-METHYL-BUT-3-EN-2-OL

ISOLEUCINE CIS-P-MENTH-2-EN-1-OL

ISOPUEGOL TRANS-P-MENTH-2-EN-1-OL

ISOVALERALDEHYDE P-MENTHA-1-5-DIEN-7-OL

JUNIPER CAMPHOR P-MENTHA-2-8-DIEN-1-OL

DAEMPFEROL P-MENTHA-1-5-DIEN-8-OL

KILOCALORIES MENTHOL-ACETATE

LAURIC-ACID P-MENTHA-1-8-DIEN-7-OL

LECITHIN METHIONINE

METHYL-ACETATE NEROL OXIDE

METHYL-CAPRYLATE NEROL

6-METHYLGINGEDIACETATE NERAL

6-METHYLGINGEDIOL NEOISOPULEGOL

METHYL-GLYOXAL NEROLIDOL

METHYL-ISOBUTYL-KETONE 9-OXO-NEROLIDOL

METHYL-NONYL-KETONE TRANS-NEROLIDOL

MENTYL-6-SHAGAOL NIACIN

METHYL-8-SHOGAOL NICKEL

METHYL-10-SHOGAOL NITROGEN

MUFA NONANAL

ALPHA-MUUROLENE NONANE

GAMMA-MUUROLENE N-NONANE

MYRCENE A-NONANONE

BETA-MYRECEN N-NONANONE

MYRICETIN NONYL-ALDEHYDE

MYRISTIC-ACID NONAN-2-OL

MYRTENAL 2-NONANONE

ALPHA-NEGINATENE CIS-OCIMENE

2-6-DIMETHYL OCTA-3-7-DIENE-1-6-DIOL

OCTANOL N-OCTANE

1-OCTANOL 2-OCTANOL

OCTANE N-OCTANOL

TRANS-OCTEN-2-AL PHOSPHORUS

OLEIC-ACID PHYTOSTEROLS

OXALIC-ACID ALPHA-PENENE

9-OXO-NEROLIDOL BETA-PINENE

PALMITIC-ACID PIPECOLIC-ACID

PALMITOLEIC-ACID POTASSIUM

PANTOTHENIC-ACID PROLAMINE

PARADOL PROLINE

4-PARADOL PROPANOL

6-PARADOL N-PROPANOL

PATCHOULI-ALCOHOL PROPIONALDEHYDE

PENTANAL PROTEIN

PENTAN-2-OL NEO-ISO-PULEGOLE

4-METHYL-2-PENTANONE PUFA

PENTOSANS QUERCETIN

PERILLEN RAFFINOSE

PERILLENE RIBOFLAVIN

PHELLANDRAL ROSEFURAN

ALPHA-PHELLANDRENE SABINENE

BETA-PHELLANDRENE CIC-SABINENE HYDRATE

(+)-BETA-PHELLANDRENE SELENIUM

PHENYLALANINE SIS-SELININ-4-OL

PHOSPHATIDIC-ACID ALPHA-SELINENE

BETA-SELINENE SYN-METHYL-6-SHOGAOL

GAMMA-SELINENE TRAN-6-SHOGAOL

SELINA-4, 11-DIENE 8-SHOGAOL

SELINA-3, 11-DIENE CIS-8-SHOGAOL

SELINA-3(7), 11-DIENE 8-METHYL-SHOGAOL

SERINE ANTI-METHYL-8-SHOGAOL

SIS-SESQUISABINENE-HYDRATE SYN-METHYL-8-SHOGAOL

SESQUIPHELLANDRENE TRAN-8-SHOGAOL

BETA-SESQUIPHELLAN DRENE 10-SHOGAOL

BETA-SESQUIPHELLANDROL CIS-10-SHOGAOL

CIS-BETA-SESQUIPHELLAN DROL ANTI-METHYL-10-SHOGAOL

TRANS-BETA-SESQUIPHEL-LANDROL SYN-METHYL-10-SHOGAOL

CIS-SESQUISABINENE-HYDRATE TRANS-10-SHOGAOL

SESQUITERPENE ALCOHOL CIS-12-SHOGAOL

SESQUITERPENE HYDROCARBON TRANS-12-SHOGAOL

SFA SILICON

SHIKIMIC-ACID BETA-SITSOTEROL

SHOGAOL SODIUM

4-SHOGAOL STARCH

6-SHOGAOL STERIC-ACID

CIS-6-SHOGAOL ALPHA-P-DIMETHYL STYRENE

6-METHYL-SHOGAOL SUCROSE

ANTI-METHYL-6-SHOGAOL SIETHYL-SULFIDE

ETHYL-ISOPROPYL-SULFIDE VALERALDEHYDE

1-8-TERPINE HYDRATE VALINE

TERPINEN-4-OL VANILLIC-ACID

ALPHA-TERPINENE VANILLIN

GAMMA-TERPINENE VIT-B6

4-TERPINEOL WATER

ALPHA-TERPINYL ACETATE XANTHORRHIZOL

THIAMIN ALPHA-YLANGENE

THREONINE BETA-YLANGENE

ALPHA-THUJENE ZINGERONE

SESQUITHUJENE ZINGIBAIN

BETA-THUJONE ZINGIBAIN

TIN ZINGIBERENE

TOLUENE ALPHA-ZINGIBERENE

TRICYCLENE BETA-ZINGIBERENE

2,2,4-TRIMETHYL-HEPTANE ZINGIBERENOL

TRYPTOPHAN ZINGIBERINE

TYROSINE ZINGIBEROL

UNDECAN-2-OL ZINGIBERONE

AN-UNDECANONE ZONARENE

N-UNDECANONE ZT

UNDECAN-2-ONE

_____________________________________________________________

7. Lawrence, B. “Major tropical spices-Ginger(Zingiber officinale Rosc.).” Perfumer and Flavorist 9 (Oct./ Nov. 1984):2-38 (p.32).

8. Felter, H.W., and Lloyd, J.U.King’s American Dispensatory.Portland, OR.: Eclectic Medical, 1983, 2110.

9. Puri, H.S., and Pandey, G. “Glimpses into the crude drugs of Sikkim.” Bulletin Medical Ethnobotany Research 1 (1980): 55-71.

10. Duke, J.A.Phytochemical Constituents of GRAS Herbs and other Economic Plants (database). CRC press, 1992.