Ginger and its Effects on Inflammatory Diseases

Abstract

Today, Ginger is used as a spice all around the world. In the past, Ginger was consumed
for the treatment of various diseases, including osteo-arthritis, neurological diseases,
vomiting, asthma, and so on. It seems that Ginger can reduce inflammation in those diseases.
We searched the following keywords in PubMed, Google scholar, and Scopus database until
2015: inflammation and Ginger, Ginger and diseases. Clinical trials, animal studies, and human
studies were included in the results of this search. Ginger extract with the antioxidant
and anti-inflammatory ingredients such as 6 Gingerols, 6-Shogoals, Zhingerol, etc can reduce
inflammatory mediators such as inflammatory cytokines and chemokines due to their effects on
NF-κB activation, cyclooxygenase 2 reduction and serotonin receptors inhibition. It increases
reducing antioxidant enzymes so it can be useful in inflammatory diseases improvement and
their complications prevention. In conclusion, Ginger can help in the treatment of inflammatory
chronic diseases such as Fatty Liver, Asthma, Cancer and Arthritis through anti-inflammatory,
immunoregulatory and antioxidative mechanisms.