Rhizomatous Plants: Curcuma longa and Zingiber officinale in Affording Immunity

Abstract

AbstractRhizomatous plants have been sources of remedy and were used widely as dietary spices and flavor. Their effects as immunomodulators are also documented. Several studies have confirmed that both Curcuma longa (turmeric) and Zingiber officinale (ginger) have a vast array of medicinal and immunomodulatory properties. Curcumin, which is one of the main curcuminoids of Curcuma longa, possesses various pharmacological properties, including immunomodulatory activities. Similarly, Zingiber officinale has a history of medicinal use for over 2500 years as one of the most versatile medicinal plants, which is traced to its bioactive compounds such as gingerol, paradol, shogaols, etc. The extracts and/or bioactive compounds from those plants are promising drug candidates against various diseases such as diabetes mellitus, bacterial infection, Alzheimer’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer, partly via their immunomodulatory properties. Several studies have identified some of the bioactive compounds in Curcuma longa and Zingiber officinale rhizomes as potential inhibitors of the novel coronaviruses responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. Such bioactive compounds are eligible for further investigation of the potential to treat COVID-19 patients effectively. This chapter describes the regulation of immune responses by rhizomatous Curcuma longa and Zingiber officinale for the treatment of diseases of diverse origin.KeywordsRhizomatous plantsImmunomodulator Curcuma longa CurcuminCoronavirus Zingiber officinale Gingerol