Ginger as a prokinetic drug and anti-inflammatory.
Three abstract are included below on this topic.
It also is a "blood thinner." It takes about
5 grams or more for this to be apparent according
to one source that I didn't include. I am not
sure if this raw or the dried ground powder as to
the amount required for this latter effect
YMMV.
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Pharmacological basis for the medicinal use of ginger in
gastrointestinal disorders.
Ghayur MN, Gilani AH.
Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences,
The Aga Khan University Medical
College, Karachi, 74800, Pakistan.
Ginger (rhizome of Zingiber officinale) has been widely
used for centuries in gastrointestinal disorders,
particularly dyspepsia, but its precise mode of
action has yet to be elucidated. This study was
undertaken to study the prokinetic action of ginger
and its possible mechanism of action. Prokinetic
activity of ginger extract (Zo.Cr) was confirmed
in an in vivo test when it enhanced the intestinal
travel of charcoal meal in mice. This propulsive effect
of the extract, similar to that of carbachol, was blocked
in atropine-pretreated mice, a standard cholinergic
antagonist. Likewise, Zo.Cr showed an atropine-sensitive
dose-dependent spasmogenic effect in vitro as well as in
isolated rat and mouse stomach fundus tissues.
In atropinized tissue, it showed spasmolytic activity as
shown by the inhibition of 5-HT- and K+-induced
contractions. A spasmolytic effect was also observed
in other gut preparations either as noncompetitive
inhibition of agonist dose-response curves, inhibition
of high K+(80 mM)-induced contractions, or displacement
of Ca2+ dose-response curves to the right, indicating
a calcium antagonist effect. Phytochemical
analysis revealed the presence of saponins,
flavonoids, and alkaloids in the crude extract.
These data indicate that Zo.Cr contains a cholinergic,
spasmogenic component evident in stomach fundus
preparations which provides a sound mechanistic insight
for the prokinetic action of ginger. In addition, the
presence of a spasmolytic constituent(s) of the calcium
antagonist type may explain its use in hyperactive
states of gut like colic and diarrhea.
PMID: 16187193
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Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2006 Feb-Mar;57(1-2):65-73.
Species differences in the prokinetic effects of ginger.
Ghayur MN, Gilani AH.
Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences,
The Aga Khan University Medical
College, Karachi, Sind, Pakistan.
This study describes the prokinetic actions of the
aqueous extract of ginger (Zingiber officinale).
Ginger extract (Zo.Cr), which tested positive for
saponins, terpenes, phenols, flavonoids and alkaloids,
showed a spasmogenic effect in isolated guinea-pig
ileum with 8-50 times more potency than in rabbit
jejunum and ileum and rat stomach fundus and ileum.
Spasmogenicity in all the gut preparations except in
guinea-pig ileum was atropine-sensitive. Zo.Cr exhibited a
stimulant effect in vivo in mice and enhanced the
intestinal transit of charcoal meal. A spasmolytic
effect, mediated via Ca2 + antagonist activity, was also
exhibited by Zo.Cr, reflected in terms of inhibition
of spontaneous contractions, K+ (80 mM)-induced
contractions and displacement of Ca2 + dose-response
curves.
The ginger pure compounds (6-shogaol, 6-gingerol,
8-gingerol and 10-gingerol) also exhibited a spasmolytic
activity, which reduced with the increasing size of
the side chain in their chemical structures.
The study showed that the aqueous extract of ginger
exhibits species-specific spasmogenicity in gut
tissues of rabbit and rat (muscarinic-type)
while through an uncharacterized pathway in
guinea-pig ileum, along with a dormant relaxant
effect, mediated via the blockade
of voltage-dependent Ca2 + channels.
PMID: 16849115
============================================================
1: Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2004 Dec;1030:434-41.
Suppression of the nuclear factor-kappaB activation
pathway by spice-derived phytochemicals: reasoning for seasoning.
Aggarwal BB, ****shodia S.
Cytokine Research Laboratory,
Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The
University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center,
Box 143, 1515 Holcombe
Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
aggarwal@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
activation of nuclear transcription factor kappaB has
now been linked with a variety of inflammatory diseases,
including cancer, atherosclerosis, myocardial
infarction, diabetes, allergy, asthma, arthritis,
Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease,
osteo****osis, psoriasis, septic shock, and AIDS.
Extensive research in the last few years has shown
that the pathway that activates this transcription
factor can be interrupted by phytochemicals derived
from spices such as turmeric (cur***in),
red pepper (capsaicin), cloves (eugenol), ginger (gingerol),
***in, anise, and fennel (anethol), basil and
rosemary (ursolic acid), garlic (diallyl sulfide,
S-allylmercaptocysteine, ajoene), and
pomegranate (ellagic acid). For the first time,
therefore, research provides "reasoning for seasoning."
PMID: 15659827
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