Ginger rhizomes (Zingiber officinale): A spice with multiple health beneficial potentials

This article briefly reviews the most salient investigations which have validated the potential of ginger with respect to the digestive stimulant, protection to the gastrointestinal tract, lipid lowering, anti-obesity, cardioprotective, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and cancer preventive properties. Ginger compounds are potent antioxidants, and consequently, ginger extracts exert promising anti-inflammatory and cancer preventive effects. The most significant among all the nutraceutical attributes of ginger are its positive influence on gastrointestinal tract including digestive stimulant action, anti-inflammatory influence, and anticancer effect. While ginger is generally considered to be safe, it also deserves to be recommended as a functional ingredient in our daily food. The present treatise reviews all the experimentally validated health benefits of this spice, to make a claim on its nutraceutical application. Graphical abstract
Source: PharmaNutrition - Category: Nutrition Source Type: research