Ginger and 6-gingerol have strong antioxidant action both in vivo and in vitro, in addition to strong anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic actions

Antioxidant Effects

The antioxidant action of ginger has been proposed as one of the major possible mechanisms for the protective actions of the extract against toxicity and lethality of radiation (Jagetia et al., 2003; Haksar et al., 2006), and a number of toxic agents such as carbon tetrachloride and cisplatin (Amin and Hamza, 2006; Yemitan and Izegbu, 2006), and as an anti-ulcer drug (Siddaraju and Dharmesh, 2007).

Recently, it has been shown that 6-gingerol has strong antioxidant action both in vivo and in vitro, in addition to strong anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic actions (Kim et al., 2007). This makes it a very effective agent for prevention of ultra violet B (UVB)-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and COX-2 expression, and a possible therapeutic agent against UVB-induced skin disorders.

References:

• Amin A and Hamza A. (2006). Effects of roselle and ginger on cisplatin induced reproductive toxicity in rats. Asian J. Androl. 8, 607–612.
• Haksar A, Sharma A, Chawla R, Kumar R, Arora R, Singh S, Prasad J, Gupta M, Tripathi RP, Arora M, Islam F and Sharma R. (2006). Zingiber officinale exhibits behavioral radioprotection against radiation. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 84, 179–188.
• Jagetia G, Baliga M, Venkatesh P and Ulloor J. (2003). Influence of ginger rhizome (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) on survival, glutathione and lipid peroxidation in mice after whole-body exposure to gamma radiation. Radiat. Res. 160, 584–592.
• Kim J, Kim Y, Na K, Surh Y and Kim T. (2007). [6]-Gingerol prevents UVB-induced ROS production and COX-2 expression in vitro and in vivo. Free Radic. Res. 41, 603–614.
• Siddaraju M and Dharmesh S. (2007). Inhibition of gastric H(+), K(+)- ATPase and Helicobacter pylori growth by phenolic antioxidants of Zingiber officinale. Mol. Nutr. Food Res. 51, 324–332.
• Yemitan O and Izegbu M. (2006). Protective effects of Zingiber officinale (Zingiberaceae) against carbon tetrachloride and acetaminophen induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Phytother. Res. 20, 997–1002.