Zingiber Officinale Extract Research Articles

Control of fungal diseases of tomato (<i>Lycopersicum esculentum</i> Mill) fruits using various plant extracts

Plant harmful fungi induce symptoms of illnesses that significantly impair the quantity and quality of tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum) yields. The high-water composition of tomatoes renders it highly vulnerable to fungal decay. These fungi, responsible for the decay of tomatoes, generate mycotoxins that pose serious risks to human health. Thus, this research goal is to separate, characterize, and classify the fungi linked with the decline of tomato produce sold across four markets in Mkpat Enin and Ikot Abasi Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Among the fungal pathogens extracted from afflicted tomato fruits were Fusarium moniliformes, Rhizopus stolonifera, and Aspergillus alternata. Different concentrations of the extracts were individually introduced into Potato Dextrose Agar media. The fungal pathogens were at that point individually introduced into the media and left to incubate for 7 days. Findings revealed that P < 0.05 suppressed the mycelial evolution of the fungal pathogens at a greater concentration tested, with the extent of inhibition varying among different extracts. The results concerning the proportion inhibition of plant extracts on different fungus indicated that, at concentrations ranging from 40% to 80%, ethanolic extracts derived from Cola acuminata and Zingiber officinale significantly (p<0.05) restrained the growth of F. moniliformes, R. stolonifera, and A. alternata. Specifically, the ethanolic leaf extract of C. acuminata demonstrated moderate inhibition on A. alternata at 60%, while the ethanolic extract of Zingiber officinale exhibited low inhibition on F. moniliformes at 40%. At a concentration of 60% in ethanolic extracts, F. moniliformes experienced the greatest inhibition among the plant extracts, whereas A. alternata displayed the least inhibition. Pathogenicity testing indicated that Aspergillus alternata exhibited the largest decay of 25mm in diameter in a healthy tomato fruit, while Rhizopus stolonifera had the smallest decay diameter. Thus, to cover the ledge life of tomato fruits, therefore there’s adequate need to implement proper handling techniques and utilize adequate storage facilities.

INCREASING THE SHELF-LIFE TROUT FILLETS BY SODIUM CASEINATE-PERSIAN GUM BIOCOMPOSITE FILM INCORPORATED WITH GINGER EXTRACT

The effects of sodium caseinate (SC)-Persian gum (PG) films enriched with Zingiber officinale extract (ZOE) were investigated on the quality of rainbow trout over a 16 day at 4°C. The trout filets were divided to 4 groups as uncoated, coated with SC-PG, SC-PG-1% ZOE and SC-PG-1.5% ZOE. Sensorial, chemical and microbial characteristics of trout samples were evaluated on 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16 days of storage. GC-MS analysis exhibited that ZOE is rich in phenolic compounds including zingiberene and cis-6-shogaol. Active films embedded with 1.5% of ZOE revealed a remarkable decline in bacterial growth over the storage time. Wrapping with SC-PG-1.5%ZOE composite film tended to delay the elevation of thiobarbituric acid and peroxide value. Samples containing 1.5% ZOE were mostly preferred by sensory panelists. Based on the results of the present study, the edible films were suitable candidates for preserving quality properties and extending the shelf life of rainbow trout fillets.

Effect of the exposure period and concentration of aqueous and alcoholic zingiber (Zingiber officinale) extract on the mean of mortality for hydatid cyst's protocolises.

To determine the anti-protocolises effect of aqueous and alcoholic zingiber extract. The present experimental study was conducted from 01, July 2021 to 15. December, 2021 at the College of Education for Pure Sciences, Iraq, and comprised 25mg/mL, 50mg/mL, 100mg/mL and 200mg/mL concentrations of both aqueous and alcoholic extracts of zingiber officinale that were prepared and used in vitro on hydatid cyst protocolises with 10min, 20min, 30min, 40min, 50min and 60min exposure times. The data was analysed using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 10 by using ANOVA and t- test to determine the differences between groups. The concentration of 200mg/ml was more efficient against the protocolises for aqueous extract, while the alcoholic extract was effective at both 100mg/ml and 200mg/ml concentrations. There was a positive relationship of the degree of killing with both exposure time and concentration. Zingiber officinale could be a potential bioactive natural product and its active constituents could be isolated and used as anti-protoscolex without any side effects.

Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) for Prevention of Gastroesophageal Inflammation: Insights from In Vitro Models.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a digestive disorder that can lead to chronic mucosal damage, causing esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus and esophageal cancer. GERD currently affects about 13% of the world's population and represent a major public health concern due to the increasing prevalence and incidence. The aim of this study was to explore complementary strategies for GERD management based the natural compound palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), alone or associated with plant extracts with demonstrated anti-GERD activity (Zingiber officinale, Musa × paradisiaca, Opuntia ficus-indica and Olea europaea). For this purpose, two in vitro models based on the esophageal mucosa CP-B cell line were chosen. The first one was based on the exposure of esophageal cells to HCl, while the second one was based on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment to cause a strong inflammatory cell response. Inflammation induced was assessed using a Luminex® assay, measuring the secretion of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IL-8 and TNF-α. Results obtained demonstrate that PEA strongly decreased the inflammatory response elicited by HCl exposure. Moreover, the effect of PEA was enhanced by the presence of natural extracts of Zingiber officinale, Musa × paradisiaca, Opuntia ficus-indica and Olea europaea. PEA should be considered as an anti-GERD natural compound of interest.

Enhancing Dental Alginate with Syzygium aromaticum, Zingiber officinale and Green Silver Nanoparticles: A Nature-Enhanced Approach for Superior Infection Control.

The study addresses the challenge of cross-infection in dentistry, focusing on improving disinfection protocols for dental hydrocolloid gel materials. This research aimed to incorporate chlorhexidine, natural plant extracts, and green-synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) into dental alginate to enhance safety and hygiene standards in dental practices. Conventional dental alginate served as the control, with experimental groups including alginate modified with 0.2% chlorhexidine (CHX-group) and alginate incorporating AgNPs synthesized from Syzygium aromaticum (SA) and Zingiber officinale (ZO) extracts (SA + AgNPs and ZO + AgNPs groups). Plant extracts were analyzed via GC/MS to confirm their composition. UV-visible spectroscopy, SEM, and EDX characterized the synthesized AgNPs. Antimicrobial efficacy against Candida albicans, Streptococcus mutans, and methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus was evaluated using agar well diffusion assays. The dimensional accuracy of alginate impressions was assessed according to ISO 21563:2021 standards. Chemical analysis of SA and ZO extracts identified 60 and 43 active compounds, respectively, supporting their use in AgNP synthesis. UV-visible spectroscopy, SEM, and EDX confirmed the formation of spherical AgNPs using SA and ZO extracts. Modified groups showed inhibitory activity against Streptococcus mutans and methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), in contrast to the unmodified control. Both AgNP-modified groups demonstrated efficacy comparable to the CHX-group against MRSA and MSSA, with SA + AgNP showing superior performance against C. albicans. The dimensional accuracy of all groups was within clinically acceptable ranges as reported in the literature (0.027-0.083 mm). CHX, silver nitrate, and green-synthesized AgNPs present promising options for developing self-disinfecting alginate impression materials. Utilizing plant extracts in AgNP synthesis offers a safe, efficient, and synergistic approach between metal ions and phytotherapeutic agents. This approach could potentially enhance disinfection efficacy without compromising material performance, improving dental safety and hygiene.

Demonstrating the staining ability of <i>Zingiber officinale</i> and <i>Curcuma longa</i> as replacement to Eosin Y in EA50

Nicholas Papanicolaou developed the Pap stain, a combination of three major stains used for cervical smears. Eosin-Azure (EA50), one of these stains, includes Eosin Y, Light Green SF, and Bismarck brown. This study explores the use of Curcuma longa extract as a substitute for Eosin Y in EA50. Cervical smears from premenopausal women were collected and stained using both the standard Papanicolaou stain and a modified version where Eosin Y was replaced with Curcuma longa extract. The modified stain's effectiveness was assessed based on the quality of staining of superficial cells. The modified stain (T.A- extract) successfully stained and highlighted superficial cells, while the Zingiber officinale extract (Z.A) performed poorly in staining the nuclei and cytoplasm. The staining ability of the Curcuma longa extract was found to be 100% comparable to the traditional Papanicolaou stain. Staining aims to clearly demonstrate cellular components for diagnostic purposes, and many existing stains are long-established but require modifications for better application. Using local alternatives can enhance availability and affordability. Curcuma longa is readily available and, based on our findings, can effectively replace Eosin Y in Eosin-Azure stains. Further research into the dye components of herbal products and their staining capabilities could lead to cost-effective, locally sourced alternatives to imported stains.

Zingiber officinale Ameliorates Acute Toxoplasmosis-Induced Pathology in Mice.

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infects one third of the world's population with significant illness, mainly among immunocompromised individuals and pregnant women. Treatment options for toxoplasmosis are limited which signifies the need for novel, potent, and safe therapeutic options. The goal of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the ethanolic extract of Zingiber officinale (Z. officinale) in treating mice infected with the RH T. gondii strain. Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to identify components of ethanolic extract of Z. officinale. A total of 80 mice were randomly allocated into four experimental groups that contained 20 mice each. The first group was left uninfected (uninfected control), while three groups were infected with T. gondii RH virulent strain tachyzoites at 2500 tachyzoites/mouse. One infected group was left untreated (infected, untreated), whereas the other two groups were treated orally with either spiramycin (positive control) or Z. officinale ethanolic extract at doses of 200mg/kg and 500mg/kg, respectively for 5 days, starting the day of infection. Ten mice from each group were used to assess mice survival in different groups, whereas the other ten mice in each group were sacrificed on the 5th day post-infectin (dpi) to estimate the treatment efficacy by quantifying liver parasite load, liver function, nitric oxide (NO) production, and levels of antioxidant enzymes. Additionally, histopathological studies were performed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of Z. officinale treatment on toxoplasmosis-induced pathological alterations in liver, brain, and spleen. Treatment with Z. officinale ethanolic extract extended the survival of mice till 9th dpi compared to 7th dpi in infected untreated mice. Higher percentage of mice survived in Z. officinale-treated group compared to spiramycin-treatment group at different time points. Liver parasite loads were significantly lower in Z. officinale extract-treated mice and spiramycin-treated mice compared to infected untreated mice which correlated with significantly lower levels of serum liver enzymes (ALT, AST) and nitric oxide (NO), as well as significantly higher catalase (CAT) antioxidant enzyme activity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examination of tachyzoites from the peritoneal fluid revealed marked damage in tachyzoites from Z. officinale-treated group compared to that from infected untreated mice. Moreover, treatment with Z. officinale ethanolic extract alleviated infection-induced pathological alterations and restored normal tissue morphology of liver, brain, and spleen. Our results demonstrated that Z. officinale treatment reduced parasite burden and reversed histopathological and biochemical alterations in acute murine toxoplasmosis. These findings support the potential utility of Z. officinale as a future effective natural therapeutic for toxoplasmosis. Further studies are needed to determine the effective active ingredient in Z. officinale extract that can be further optimized for treatment of toxoplasmosis.

Potentials of Zingiber officinale and Allium sativum ethanol extracts to inhibit oxidative stress and inflammation resulting from cancer inducement with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene

Oxidative stress is the outcome of an imbalance between systemic manifestation of reactive oxygen species and a biological systems ability to readily detoxify the reactive intermediates in order to repair the resulting damage. This imbalance causes toxic effects through production of peroxides and free radicals. This study evaluated the potentials of Zingiber officinale and Allium sativum ethanol extracts to inhibit oxidative stress and inflammation resulting from cancer inducement with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) using female Swiss virgin Albino rats of 7–8 weeks old. The plants were extracted with ethanol and assayed for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and nuclear factor kappa B (NFk-β) to indicate inflammatory responses; malondialdehyde, superoxide dismuthase, catalase and glutathione as indicators of oxidative stress.. All assays were done using standard methods. Phytocompounds in Zingiber officinale were: alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, steroids and terpenoids while those in Allium sativum were alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, and glycosides. The actual lethal doses (LD50) of Zingiber officinale, Allium sativum and combination of the two were 8,660, 4,472, and 5,477 mg/kg body weight respectively. Zingiber officinale and Allium sativum ethanol extracts either as mono-therapy or in combination decreased the serum levels of malondialdehyde, and increased superoxide dismuthase, catalase and glutathione. They also decreased tumor necrosis factor-alpha and nuclear factor kappa B significantly (p˂0.05) when compared with control group. These were most remarkable in group 8. In conclusion, Zingiber officinale and Allium sativum ameliorated the oxidative stress and inflammation responses most remarkably when given at the proportion of ZO:AS = 6:4 (318:212 mg/kg body weight).

Modulatory Effect of Aqueous Ginger (Zingiber officinale) Extract on Gentamicin Sulfate Induced Oxidative Stress and Nephrotoxicity in Female Albino Rats

Modulatory Effect of Aqueous Ginger (Zingiber officinale) Extract on Gentamicin Sulfate Induced Oxidative Stress and Nephrotoxicity in Female Albino Rats

Reversal of high-fat diet-induced cognitive impairment and oxidative stress in the brain through Zingiber officinale supplementation.

Obesity is a significant health concern that is correlated with various adverse health outcomes. Diet-induced obesity (DIO) is associated with impaired cognitive function. Pharmacological treatments for obesity are limited and may have serious adverse effects. Zingiber officinale (ZO) has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, in addition to metabolic effects. This study aimed to assess the effects of Zingiber officinale supplementation on cognitive function, anxiety levels, neurotrophin levels, and the inflammatory and oxidative status in the cortex following DIO in mice. Two-month-old male Swiss mice were fed DIO or standard chow for 4 months and subsequently subdivided into the following groups (n = 10 mice/group): (i) control - vehicle (CNT + vehicle); (ii) CNT supplemented with ZO (CNT + ZO); (iii) obese mice (DIO + vehicle); and (iv) obese mice supplemented with ZO (DIO + ZO) (n = 10). Zingiber officinale extract (400mg/kg/day) was administered for 35 days via oral gavage. The DIO + vehicle group exhibited impaired recognition memory. The CNT + ZO group presented a greater number of crossings in the open field. No difference between the groups was observed in the plus maze test. DIO + vehicle increased the DCFH and carbonylation levels in the cortex. The DIO + vehicle group presented a reduction in catalase activity. The expression of inflammatory or neurotrophin markers in the cerebral cortex was not different. In conclusion, our findings indicate that supplementation with ZO reverses the cognitive impairment in DIO mice and enhances the antioxidant status of the cerebral cortex.

Characterization and Management of Post-harvest Fungal Diseases in Banana (Musa paradisiaca)

Banana (Musa spp.) is a vital crop globally, contributing significantly to food security and income generation, particularly in tropical regions like India. However, post-harvest fungal diseases pose a considerable threat to banana production, affecting both fruit quality and marketability. The current study investigated the isolation, characterization, and management of post-harvest fungal diseases in banana (Musa paradisiaca). Infected banana fruits were collected from the Dharashiv fruit market (Maharashtra, India), and pathogenic fungi were isolated and identified. Fusarium napiforme, Talaromyces atroroseus, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Fusarium sp., and Fusarium equiseti were the primary pathogens identified. DNA extraction and sequencing were employed for accurate identification, and sequences were submitted to GenBank. The antifungal activity of essential oils and plant extracts was evaluated using the Poisoned Food Technique. Essential oils from Syzygium aromaticum, Mentha piperita, and Punica granatum showed significant inhibition (P<0.05) of fungal growth, with clove and peppermint oils achieving 100% inhibition at higher concentrations. Plant extracts of Ocimum sanctum, Eucalyptus globulus, Mentha piperita, Zingiber officinale, Curcuma longa, Azadirachta indica, Piper betel, and Cymbopogon citratus were also tested, revealing notable efficacy, particularly with neem and peppermint extracts. The study that the efficacy of essential oils was more compared to aqueous plant extracts. The results suggested sustainable strategies for managing post-harvest fungal diseases in bananas and explained the importance of conducting field trials to validate laboratory results.

Safety and effect of a new artificial saliva containing Zingiber officinale and Cuminum cyminum on stimulating saliva secretion: In vitro, in vivo and preliminary clinical study

IntroductionXerostomia is a symptom that affects quality of life and may lead to malnutrition. While artificial saliva is used as a lubricant for the oral cavity, it rarely stimulates saliva secretion. The objective of this study was to develop a herbal artificial saliva (HAS) that could stimulate saliva secretion and be safe for human consumption. MethodsThree HAS formulations were prepared with 0.3 % Cuminum cyminum extract and 0.05 %, 0.10 %, and 0.15 % Zingiber officinale extract (HAS0.05, HAS 0.10, and HAS0.15, respectively). In vivo skin and oral mucosal irritation tests were used to evaluate the safety of HAS0.15. Additionally, the preliminary efficacy and safety of the three HAS formulations were investigated in 21 healthy volunteers. The sample was sprayed into the oral cavity under the left and right sides of the tongue. Thirty minutes after spraying, the amount of saliva was assessed using a visual analogue scale and a Schirmer strip. In addition, dry mouth symptoms, the saliva pH, and adverse reactions were assessed before and after testing. ResultsHAS0.15 caused minimal skin irritation and did not alter the epithelium or other structures of the oral mucosa. The saliva quantity after using HAS0.10 and HAS0.15 was significantly higher than prior to testing (p < 0.05). None of the formulations induced mucositis or adverse reactions. ConclusionThis study was successful in the development of a new HAS that stimulated saliva secretion and was safe for humans. However, this study is preliminary: Further clinical investigation in patients with hyposalivation will confirm the efficacy of this novel HAS. This novel HAS may be an alternative treatment for the elderly and patients with hyposalivation.

Efficacy of Zingiber Officinale (ZO) in The Treatment of Lead Acetate-induced Hepatopathy in Rabbits: An Ultrastructural Assessment of Sub-acute Trial.

Lead acetate (Pb) is a hazardous heavy metal that is well-known to impair the functions of bodily systems and organs. This present study identifies the histopathological alterations that Pb toxicity causes in the liver of rabbits as well as the efficacy of ginger (Zingiber Officinale, ZO) in mitigating its negative effects. As ZO is a rich source of several antioxidants, this present study examines its ability to decrease Pb toxicity in test animals. A total of 30 rabbits were randomly divided into three groups (n = 10). The Control group was only fed distilled water, the Negative group was only fed a 2% Pb solution, while the Treated group was fed a 2% Pb solution as well as 100 mg of ZO extract per kilogram of body weight daily. Lead acetate (Pb) was found to significantly alter the histopathology of rabbit livers by increasing inflammation, fibrosis, vacuolation, and degeneration; significantly decreasing plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzymatic activities; and increasing plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations. Furthermore, ZO extract not only significantly decreases the negative hepatic impacts of Pb but also prevents Pb-induced hepatopathy.

Assessment of antidiabetic activity of Zingiber officinale and Cajanus cajan leaf extracts in the alloxan-diabetic rats

Assessment of antidiabetic activity of Zingiber officinale and Cajanus cajan leaf extracts in the alloxan-diabetic rats

Modulation of female reproductive hormones by Zingiber officinale and Allium sativum ethanol extracts administered singly and in combinations in female Wister rats

The reproductive system in females is responsible for producing gametes, sex hormones, and maintaining fertilized eggs as they develop. The female reproductive system is regulated by a balance of hormones. This study was aimed at analyzing the modulation of female reproductive hormones including FSH, LH and prolactin by Zingiber officinale and Allium sativum separately and in combination in female Wister rat models. A total of 40 mature female Wister rats were divided into 8 groups (n=5). Groups 1 were treated with distilled water and served as the normal control. Group 2 were treated with Zingiber officinale ethanol extract alone. Group 3 were treated with Allium sativum ethanol extract alone. Group 4-8 were treated with combined administration of Zingiber officinale and Allium sativum ethanol extracts in the ratios of ZO:AS = 2:8, 4:6, 5:5, 6:4, and 8:2 respectively.. Treatment were administered for 90 days. On the 91st day of treatment after administration of the 90th doses, blood samples were collected by ocular puncture from all the rats from each of groups 1-8 for serum hormone testing. Zingiber officinale monotherapy increased the serum levels of FSH and LH and decreased the level of prolactin. The reverse was the case with Allium sativum monotherapy. The combination of the two herbs increased FSH and LH; or decreased prolactin only when the proportions of Zingiber officinale were higher. In conclusion, only the monotherapy of Zingiber officinale enhanced the serum levels of FSH and LH and modulated prolactin level to a desired level.

Effect of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) Extracts on Mechanical and Antimicrobial Properties of Ganyong Starch Edible Films as Primary Packaging of Crabstick

Research has been conducted on the effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale) extract addition in the combination of an edible film made from Ganyong starch, sorbitol and chitosan. This study aims to analyze whether this formulation can be used as a substitute packaging for crabsticks that have been using conventional plastic packaging. By using a variation of ginger extract concentrations of 0, 3%, 6% and 9% into 3 % Ganyong starch, 4 % sorbitol and 0.3 % chitosan (w/v). Mechanical characteristics were carried out in the form of tensile strength, elongation, young modulus, swelling, moisture content, thickness, and solubility test. Antimicrobial ability and DSC (Differential scanning calorimetry) for the thermal properties of the casted film were also conducted. Data was analyzed using One-way Anova SPSS version 29 with Turkey’s test. The addition of ginger extract to edible films based on Ganyong starch, sorbitol and chitosan can be used as primary packaging for crabsticks. The best formulation was found in the 6 % ginger extract variation with the results of swelling (95 %), moisture content (13 %), elongation (76 %), and antimicrobial properties of Escherichia coli (7.5 mm) and Bacillus cereus (6.9 mm). In addition, the melting temperature (Tm) of 6 % ginger extract concentration was also higher (134 °C), yet was not significantly different from the other variations. Therefore, this formulation has the potential as an alternative primary crabstick packaging. HIGHLIGHTS Preparation of edible film from 3 % Ganyong starch, 4 % sorbitol, 0.3 % chitosan with fixed concentration and 3 different variations of ginger extract concentration (0, 3, 6, and 9 %), respectively. Casting method of edible film as primary packaging of crabsticks Mechanical properties and antimicrobial activity against Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli, gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, respectively The 6 % ginger extract variation showed better results with elongation (76 %), moisture content (13 %), swelling (95 %), and antimicrobial properties of coli (7.5 mm) and B. cereus (6.9 mm) GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Phytochemical Profile and Antibacterial Effects of Zingiber Officinale Root Extract on Some Enteric Bacterial Pathogens

The majority of Africans today depend either totally or partially on medicinal plants for the treatment of various diseases. In some rural communities, ethno-medicine is sometimes the only form of healthcare. Therefore, this work aimed to determine the phytochemical constituents and antibacterial potentials of Z. officinale, which is one of the medicinal plants used by some people. The active ingredients of the plant were first extracted using water and ethanol as solvents. This was followed by the phytochemical analysis of the extracts. Furthermore, the antibacterial effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Z. officinale on Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi and Shigella dysenteriae isolated from faeces of gastroenteritis patients were evaluated using the agar diffusion technique (punch method). Additionally, a two-fold tube dilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the extracts. The mean values of zones of inhibition obtained were statistically analyzed using ANOVA. The least significant difference was determined according to the LSD test at P&lt;0.05. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of saponin, alkaloids, flavonoids, and tannins. The antibacterial results showed that both the aqueous and ethanolic extracts have antibacterial effects against all the test organisms but at varying degrees. At the 500mg/ml concentration, the ethanolic extract of Zingiber officinale produced a zone of inhibition of 21.00b against S. dysenteriae and 20.00b against E. coli and S. typhi. On the other hand, the 500mg/ml concentration of the aqueous extract had a zone of inhibition of 20.00b against S. dysenteriae, 16.00b against E. coli and 10.00b against S. typhi. The findings from this study lend credence to the claims that Z. officinale extracts possess antibacterial potentials. Also, the higher potency in ethanolic than in aqueous extract suggests that the potency might be dose and solvent dependent. Conclusively, owing to the findings from this study, the active ingredients of Z. officinale could be harnessed and employed in the development of novel antibacterial therapies.

Development of Nanostructured Lipid Carrier-Loaded Flavonoid-Enriched Zingiber officinale.

Flavonoids, which are bioactive molecules found in Zingiber officinale, have been widely used as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory drugs. The presence of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) as sophisticated delivery systems for bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids, can increase their bioavailability and stability, thus potentially producing better therapeutic effects. This study aimed to develop an anti-inflammatory topical gel using NLC-containing flavonoids derived from Zingiber officinale. The NLC formulation was prepared using stearic acid, a mixture of medium-chain triglycerides and isopropyl myristate, Tween 20, and Span 20 by using a hot homogenization method. The total flavonoid content obtained through sequential maceration stages was 4.04 mg of QUE/g of dry extract. The highest encapsulation efficiency of flavonoid-loaded NLC was observed at a flavonoid, Zingiber officinale extract (ZOE) concentration of 2%. It was found that a ZOE concentration of 0.4% provided excellent stability with a particle size of 302-344 nm and a polydispersity index of 0.14-0.23 after 28 days of observation. Morphological analysis of the ZOE-loaded NLC revealed a stable and well-developed formulation with a fairly uniform distribution. The presence of distinctive and uniformly distributed single particles suggests a promising alternative drug delivery system for conventional topical preparations. ZOE-loaded NLC gel showed solid-like properties and higher quality stability than the gel.

Integrative Bioinformatics Analysis Reveals Potential Target Genes and PTEN Signaling in Breast Cancer and Effect of Zingiber officinale (Ginger) and Allium sativum (Garlic) extract on It.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women. The construction of a competing gene network is an important step in the identification of the role of hub genes in breast cancers. In the current research, we used a number of bioinformatics tools to construct this network in breast cancer and investigated the combined effect of garlic and ginger on mice model of breast cancer. We chose female mice weighing 18-20 g that were divided into 7 groups including; the cancer group receiving normal saline, different doses of ginger extract (100 and 500 mg/kg), different doses of garlic (50 and 100 mg/kg), tamoxifen (10 mg/ kg) and simultaneous garlic (100 mg/kg) and ginger (500 mg/kg) for 3 weeks intraperitoneal. Then we anesthetized the mice, isolated the tumor, and determined its size. Glutathione reductase and peroxidase levels and HER2, PTEN, and Cullin3 genes expression were measured. We identified 20 hub genes for breast cancer. In animal phase we found that tumor size in all mice receiving garlic and ginger showed a significant decrease compared to the control. Glutathione reductase showed a significant increase in all groups, especially in ginger 500 and combined groups. Glutathione peroxidase increased almost in all groups, especially in ginger 500. Expression of HER2 decreased in all treated groups. Expression of PTEN increased just in the combined group. Taken together, we introduce a number of novel promising diagnostic biomarkers for breast cancer. The use of garlic and ginger in the treatment of cancer can be useful. This action is probably through the antioxidant mechanism, and regulation of the expression of cancer related genes such as PTEN.

Efficacy of ginger (Zingiber officinale) in controlling fungi causing postharvest deterioration in yam tuber

Yam (Dioscorea sp.) is a popular tuber in Cameroon, where it is grown for both food and income. One of the most challenging aspects of the long-term storage of yam tubers is post-harvest spoilage, often caused by fungi. The use of post-harvest chemicals on yam tubers is not a matter of course. The present study evaluated the efficacy of aqueous extract and powder of Zingiber officinale against fungi associated with the storage rot of yam. The fungi were isolated from two yam cultivars, “Calabar” and “Ghana”, from three localities in Cameroon. The antifungal activity of the aqueous extract and ginger powder was studied in vivo on slices of yam tubers. The results obtained showed that eight fungi were associated with yam tubers and exhibited typical rotting symptoms. The most prevalent and virulent fungus was Penicillium sp., which caused decay volumes of 12.76 cm3 and 8.74 cm3 for “Calabar” and “Ghana” cultivars, respectively. Fungal spoilage was greatly reduced by the application of aqueous extract and ginger powder. The aqueous extract tested at the 30% dose was more effective with up to 80% inhibition. However, the ginger powder was more effective against Penicillium sp., Aspergillus niger, and Colletotrichum sp. associated with rot in the variety “Ghana” with total inhibition (100%). Therefore, the aqueous extracts and powder of Zingiber officinale can be used as a bio fungicide to improve the shelf life of yam tubers.