Spice Plant Research Articles

Pharmacological Characterization of Nigella sativa Extract and the Compound Beta-caryophyllene

Traditional medicines made from medicinal plants are the most abundant biosources of medications. Pharmaceutical medications, synthetic pharmaceuticals, Siddha, Ayurveda, nutraceuticals, and dietary supplements all come from plant sources. In spite of several studies using herbal plants that have shown a strong link between phytochemical, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammatory content, Nigella sativa—a spice plant of the Ranunculaceae family—showed more significant qualities than its competitors. Numerous pharmacological properties were discovered in both the Nigella sativa essential oil and the seeds. Nigella sativa is considered to be the most powerful antioxidant and medicinal plant with known medicinal properties and therapeutic applications, and it is used as traditional medicine for respiratory, gastrointestinal, rheumatic, and inflammatory disorders. The study was conducted using Nigella sativa and compound Beta caryophyllene to determine the anti-oxidant, invitro-anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, and enzymatic and non-enzymatic activity of the ethanolic seed extract of Nigella sativa and compound Beta caryophyllene on Alzheimer's disease because there were no toxic effects or serious side effects observed using animal models or in clinical trials. The antioxidant activity of the compound and the extract was examined to study the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the extract and the compound beta-caryophyllene. Phytochemical screening exhibited secondary metabolites of the extract, such as phenols, flavonoids, steroids, alkaloids, and cardiac glycosides. Nigella sativa extract and its constituents such as beta-caryophyllene, possess a protective effect against toxicity, which is caused by drugs used for treating cancer as well as neurodegenerative disorders. Further, the extract prevents a decrease in hemoglobin levels as well as leukocyte counts. The purpose of the research is to demonstrate that Nigella sativa and the chemical beta-caryophyllene may be employed as medicinal agents and that beta-caryophyllene may have potential cholinesterase inhibitory effects.

EVALUATING GENETIC DIVERSITY IN PAKISTANI TURMERIC SELECTIONS THROUGH ANALYSIS OF CURCUMIN CONTENT, VEGETATIVE CHARACTERISTICS, AND RHIZOME YIELD TRAITS IN FAISALABAD, PAKISTAN

EVALUATING GENETIC DIVERSITY IN PAKISTANI TURMERIC SELECTIONS THROUGH ANALYSIS OF CURCUMIN CONTENT, VEGETATIVE CHARACTERISTICS, AND RHIZOME YIELD TRAITS IN FAISALABAD, PAKISTAN Turmeric (Curcuma longa), a member of the Zingiberaceae family, is a spice plant that has long been recognized for its medicinal properties. There is high genetic variation exists within the species of Curcuma longa, even though it is clonally propagated. The overall genetic diversity in Curcuma longa may be due to its population distribution in areas of diverse ecological conditions in Pakistan. Present study was performed to evaluate different turmeric selections, which were collected from five different locations viz., S1 from Institute of Horticultural Sciences (IHS), University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF), Pakistan, S2 and S3 from Faisalabad (Jaranwala and Kanjwani, respectively) and S4 and S5 from Kasur (Tirath and Hussain Khan Wala, respectively), Punjab, Pakistan. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design and each treatment was replicated thrice. Among the selections, selection S5 (Hussain Khan Wala) performed best for growth and yield traits, i.e. plant height (79.6 cm), number of tillers per plant (3.4), number of leaves per plant (17.7), leaf length (37.7 cm), leaf width (12.3 cm), stem diameter (16.1 mm), number of primary rhizomes per plant (6.3), number of secondary rhizomes per plant (11.1), total number of rhizomes per plant (18.4), weight of primary rhizomes (95.3 g per plant), weight of secondary rhizomes (94.3 g per plant), yield (213.1 g per plant), rhizome length (52.7 mm) and rhizome diameter (22.8 mm). However, curcumin content (0.79%), total dry matter (45.8%), moisture content (58.1%) and total soluble solids (12.0 oBrix) were highest in selections S2 (Jaranwala), S4 (Tirath), S1 (IHS, UAF) and S2 (Jaranwala), respectively. Therefore, it is recommended that turmeric selection S5 (Hussain Khan Wala) may be cultivated for higher yield, while S2 selection (Jaranwala) is for highest curcumin production.

Pengaruh Aromaterapi Lavender untuk Kualitas Tidur Pada Pasien Hemodialisa RS PKU Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is defined when kidney damage lasts more than 3 months. Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a disease with various causes in the form of structural or functional abnormalities, accompanied by a decrease in glomerular filtration rate (GFR). People with chronic kidney disease and kidney failure often require kidney replacement therapy or hemodialysis. Sleep disorders are one of the complications of hemodialysis and often occur in patients with chronic kidney disease and over a long period of time. This can affect the quality of sleep of people with chronic kidney disease, both in terms of quantity and duration of sleep, which ultimately affects the individual's daily function. Non-pharmacological methods such as aromatherapy are important to relieve, prevent or treat certain diseases using natural plant spices or aromatic essential oils. Lavender aromatherapy belongs to the Lamiaceae family and its scientific name is Lavandula angustifolia. Inhaling lavender oil is a simple method that has been proven to have a positive effect on various symptoms, especially in hemodialysis patients with sleep disorders.

Exploring the potential of fennel (<i>Foeniculum vulgare</i> Mill.) as a valuable medicinal plant: a comprehensive (review)

Introduction. Foeniculum vulgare Mill., commonly known as fennel or drugstore dill, is very common as one of the world's oldest spice plants, which has significant economic importance and wide application in the pharmaceutical industry. In medical practice, the fruits of this plant are mainly used, which are included in the State Pharmacopoeia of the XIV edition and are a source of essential oil. They are used as an antispasmodic and carminative agent in the form of an infusion. Fennel grass harvested before flowering is used for food, as well as fruits, stems and inflorescences of the plant as a seasoning.Text. The purpose of this study is to summarize scientific papers on the morphological characteristics, phytochemical compounds, therapeutic properties and basic mechanisms of pharmacological activity of F. vulgare. A systematic literature search was conducted using relevant keywords such as "fennel", "Foeniculum vulgare Mill.", "therapeutic" and "pharmacology" in well-known databases, including ScienceDirect, Scopus, EBSCO and Medline. The search covered articles published before April 25, 2023 in available journals. The results of the study showed that fennel has a wide range of pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antibacterial and estrogenic effects. These effects can be explained by the presence of aromatic compounds, in particular anethole, estragole and fenchone, which are abundantly present in fennel.Conclusion. The diverse pharmacological properties and rich chemical composition of fennel make it a promising raw material for the development of new medicines. Further study of the therapeutic potential of fennel through in vivo and in vitro studies will contribute to the establishment of mechanisms of pharmacological action of biologically active substances (BAS) of fennel.

Ethnobotany of spice plants in Namo Rambe village, North Sumatra, Indonesia

Ethnobotany is a science that studies the relationships between humans, both tribes and social groups, and their interactions with plants. Spices are defined as spices derived from plants or herbs, both fresh and dried, which are aromatic and can be used as seasonings, flavor enhancers, fragrances and food preservatives. This research was conducted in Namo Rambe Village, Pancur Batu District, Deli Serdang, North Sumatra. Sampling was carried out using observation and interview methods and then analyzed descriptively by paying attention to the UVS (Use Value Species), FUV (Family use-value) and FL % (Fidelity level) values. Based on the results of interviews with 40 respondents, 25 types of spices consisting of 13 families were obtained. The highest UVS value for Z. officinale is 0.375, meaning Z. officinale has a significant role in people’s lives and is often used in various aspects of daily life. The lowest UVS index is 0.025%. found in 6 plant species, meaning these plant types are not often used in everyday life. The highest FUV index is 0.18 for spices from the Poaceae family, which means that plant types from the Poaceae family are often used by people in everyday life and the lowest is 0.03 for the Solanaceae family, which means that plant types from the Solanaceae family are not often used by people in their daily life. everyday life. The highest FL index (%) in spice plants is 32.5% in Z. officinale plants, meaning that this type of plant is most widely used by people for food, drinks, medicines and the lowest FL index (%) in T. indica plants, A. schoenoprasum, C. frutencens, A. cardamomum, K. galangal, P. ningrum, M. fragrans amounted to 2.5%, which means that people do not use many of these types of plants as medicinal ingredients.

Application of GIS and Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) in Land Evaluation at Ninh Phuoc District, Ninh Thuan Province, Vietnam

This study was conducted to assess land suitability (land evaluation) in the Ninh Phuoc districts in order to identify evidence for recommending main crops effectively and sustainably using agricultural land under drought conditions. Results indicated that Ninh Phuoc district had 83 land mapping units (LMUs), with 10 main land use types (LUTs) of rice, annual cash crops, and perennial plants. About 99.2% of agricultural land was classified as high suitability (S1), moderate suitability (S2), and marginal suitability (S3) for most LUTs, while non-suitability (N) lands were very small (0.8%). This study’s land suitability classification analysis has offered valuable insights into the current land use situation in Ninh Phuoc district and proposes sustainable land management recommendations. It has taken into account various land use criteria and assumptions. The study has proposed the following actions for sustainable land use: (i) Maintain highly suitable (S1) and moderately suitable (S2) land areas, (ii) Renovate or convert marginally suitable land (S3) to suitable tree planting/forestation, (iii) Convert unsuitable land (N) to forestry, grass, or plants that enhance soil quality, and (iv) Preserve existing forest areas without encroachment. Specific results in Ninh Phuoc district when applying land suitability classification for future orientation are as follows: maintain 14,859.31 ha, which has high suitability (S1) and moderate suitability (S2) levels; maintain 30.78 hectares of grass and convert 335 hectares to other suitable trees/forest plantations for the suitable marginal area (S3); Convert 122 ha of Not Suitable (N) to afforestation/grass/apply land soil improvement measure; For more than 3700 hectares of unused land, put into use 343.53 ha for growing spice plants, 8.67 ha for rice, 677.18 ha for planting forest trees, 2,691.50 ha for development of pasture and grazing.

Saffron Blooms Beyond Soil: A Thorough Review on Soilless Corm Production Strategies

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is a highly valuable spice and medicinal plant known for its potent aromatic compounds. Due to its scarcity and susceptibility to various challenges, including adverse weather, soil conditions, and adulteration. There is a growing interest in soilless cultivation methods such as hydroponics to enhance saffron production. This article discusses the potential benefits of soilless cultivation, the structure for cultivating corms in hydroponic systems, the choice of growing media, nutrient solutions, electrical conductivity (EC), pH, and environmental conditions, including light spectrum modulation, to optimize saffron corm production.

Optimization of Red Ginger (Zingiber officinale var. Rubrum) Extraction Using Microwave Assisted Hydrodistillation Method

Red ginger is a spice plant that has high economic and social value. One of the uses of red ginger is to process it into a product, namely essential oil. This study aims to determine the optimization of the extraction process conditions on solvent volume, time, and extraction power that can produce optimum yield and residual content of red ginger essential oil solvent. The extraction was carried out with the help of microwaves. The research method is experimental design and optimization process with Response Surface Methodology (RSM) type Box-Behnken Design (BBD). The results showed that the optimum yield was at 700 mL solvent volume, 1 min extraction time, and 10% power (69.9 watts) with the equation Y = 0.2076 + 0.0262A – 0.0300B – 0.0013C and the concentration conditions the optimum remaining solvent with the equation Y = 4.98 – 1.0000A + 4.56B + 5.44C. The optimal yield of red ginger essential oil was 0.205%, with a residual solvent content of 3.8%, specific gravity 0.885, acid number 1.399, refractive index 1.485. The results of the optimum residual solvent content of -6.023%. Based on the results obtained, the yield value with the help of microwaves is higher than that without the help of microwaves. Keywords: Essential oil, Microwave, Residual solvent content, Response surface methodology (RSM), Yield.

The influence of climate change on the future distribution of two Thymus species in Iran: MaxEnt model-based prediction

Within a few decades, the species habitat was reshaped at an alarming rate followed by climate change, leading to mass extinction, especially for sensitive species. Species distribution models (SDMs), which estimate both present and future species distribution, have been extensively developed to investigate the impacts of climate change on species distribution and assess habitat suitability. In the West Asia essential oils of T. daenensis and T. kotschyanus include high amounts of thymol and carvacrol and are commonly used as herbal tea, spice, flavoring agents and medicinal plants. Therefore, this study aimed to model these Thymus species in Iran using the MaxEnt model under two representative concentration pathways (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5) for the years 2050 and 2070. The findings revealed that the mean temperature of the warmest quarter (bio10) was the most significant variable affecting the distribution of T. daenensis. In the case of T. kotschyanus, slope percentage was the primary influencing factor. The MaxEnt modeling also demonstrated excellent performance, as indicated by all the Area Under the Curve (AUC) values exceeding 0.9. Moreover, based on the projections, the two mentioned species are expected to undergo negative area changes in the coming years. These results can serve as a valuable achievement for developing adaptive management strategies aimed at enhancing protection and sustainable utilization in the context of global climate change.

Crocus Officinalis (L.) Extract on Human Colerectal Cancer Cell Line (HT-22): Investigation in Vitro

Crocus sativus L. has been used as spice, food colouring and medicinal plant for thousands of years. In this study, antioxidant properties and cytotoxic effect of saffron extract were evaluated in HT-22 cell lines. Malignant and non-malignant cells (L929) were cultured in DMEM medium and incubated with different concentrations of saffron extract in different solvents (water, ethanol, ethyl-acetate, n-hexane). Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Antioxidant parameters such as DPPH, FRAP, total polyphenol and flavonoid amounts were measured. The highest DPPH value was found as 15.90±0.12 µg/mL in ethyl acetate solvent. Total polyphenols were 89.06±0.02 mg GAE/g extract, flavonoids were 76.98±2.08 µg QE/g extract and FRAP was 67.93±0.98 mg/g extract in ethanol solvent. In colon cancer, IC50 value 94±1.37 µg/mL was found to be the highest value. This is thought to be due to the high antioxidant capacity in ethanol solvent. While antioxidant capacity was not found to be high, antiproliferation effect was found to be high. Saffron may also be considered as a promising chemotherapeutic agent in cancer treatment in the future.

Characterization of Odorants in a Commercial Culinary Sage (Salvia officinalis L.) and Several Cultivars.

Culinary sage, Salvia officinalis L., is a popular spice plant commonly used throughout the world. In this study, 35 odorants were identified in dried sage via solvent-assisted flavor evaporation (SAFE) and aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA), including 9 that were identified in sage for the first time. Fifteen odorants were quantitated by stable isotope dilution analysis (SIDA), and their odor activity values (OAVs) were determined. Odorants with high OAVs included (2E,6Z)-nona-2,6-dienal, 1,8-cineole, and β-myrcene. A formulated aroma simulation model closely matched the aroma profile of an aqueous infusion of dried sage. Enantiomeric proportions of selected odorants were determined by chiral gas chromatography. Furthermore, 6 different sage cultivars were grown in the greenhouse, dried under the same conditions, and analyzed. Sensory analysis determined that all cultivars were dominated by an herbaceous sensory attribute and had varying intensities of eucalyptus, mint, clove, pine, green, earthy, floral, and citrus notes. Cultivars with varying intensities of herbaceous, eucalyptus, pine, and green sensory notes correlated with the OAVs of α-thujone/β-thujone, 1,8-cineole, α-pinene, and (2E,6Z)-nona-2,6-dienal, respectively. This study identified the odorants driving the sensory profiles of different sage cultivars and serves as a foundation for future studies on the aroma chemistry of culinary sage.

Identification and Functional Validation of Two Novel Antioxidant Peptides in Saffron.

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is one of the most expensive spices in the world, boasting rich medicinal and edible value. However, the effective development of active natural substances in saffron is still limited. Currently, there is a lack of comprehensive studies on the saffron stigma protein, and the main effect peptides have not been identified. In this study, the total protein composition of saffron stigmas was analyzed, and two main antioxidant peptides (DGGSDYLGK and VDPYFNK) were identified, which showed high antioxidant activity. Then, the stability of two peptides was further evaluated. Furthermore, our results suggested that these two peptides may protect HepG2 cells from H2O2-induced oxidative damage by significantly improving the activity of endogenous antioxidant enzymes and reducing the malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Collectively, we identified two peptides screened from the saffron protein possessing good antioxidant activity and stability, making them promising candidates for use as functional foods, etc., for health promotion. Our findings indicated that proteomic analysis together with peptide identification is a good method for exploitation and utilization of spice plants.

Inhibition of proliferation of human osteosarcoma cell line (MG63) by ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi L.) plant extract

Trachyspermum ammi L. (TA), popularly called ajwain, is a well-known spice plant, with fruit pods that are used in Indian traditional medicine. Fruits of this plant were scientifically investigated for medicinal properties, but no studies are reported on the vegetative parts of the plant. Hence, the present investigation is aimed to evaluate the aerial parts of the plant for anti-proliferative and antioxidant effects. Methanolic extract (Me) of TA was subjected to sequential fractionation using the solvents in the increasing order of polarity viz. hexane (He), dichloromethane (Dcm), ethyl acetate (Ea), n-butanol (n-Bu), and water (Aq). Phytochemical analyses, DPPH radical scavenging assay, and in vitro antiproliferative activity on the MG63 osteosarcoma cell line (MTT assay) were performed. Preliminary phytochemical analyses revealed the presence of reducing and non-reducing sugars, amino acids, tannins, phenols, terpenoids, and saponins. Ethyl acetate fraction showed the highest amount of total phenolics (367.90±0.02), followed by n-Bu (287.50±0.04), Dcm (193.56±0.07), Me extract (190.14±0.07), Aq (142.20±0.02) and He (80.74±0.01) fractions. Ethyl acetate fraction exhibited higher DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50 =116.74 μg/mL) followed by n-Bu (IC50=133.81 μg/mL) fraction with a correlation to the higher amount of phenolics and flavonoids. However, maximum antiproliferative activity was exhibited by hexane fraction on MG 63 human osteosarcoma cell line which can be attributed to the presence of thymol, a monoterpenoid phenol present in ajwain. The current study indicates that the aerial parts of T. ammi Linn. can be considered as potential antioxidants and therapeutic against osteosarcoma.

Medicinal, Aromatic, and Spice Plants: Biodiversity, Phytochemistry, Bioactivity, and Their Processing Innovation

For centuries, drugs were entirely of natural origin, composed of herbs, animal products, and inorganic materials [...]

Therapeutic potential of Nankhawah/Ajwain (Tracyspermum ammi Linn): A comprehensive review article

Background: Trachyspermum ammi Linn., commonly known as ajwain, is a widely recognized spice and medicinal plant originating from Egypt but cultivated across regions such as Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. Belonging to the Apiaceae family, this species offers diverse pharmacological benefits due to its rich chemical constituents.
 Objectives: This review aims to summarize the traditional and contemporary applications of Trachyspermum ammi, focusing on its ethnobotanical description, chemical composition, and pharmacological aspects.
 Methodology: The literature search encompassed scientific databases and publications covering the historical usage, chemical profiling, and biological activities of Trachyspermum ammi.
 Results: Trachyspermum ammi exhibits a variety of pharmacological activities, including antifungal, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antinociceptive, antispasmodic, carminative, diuretic, aphrodisiac, and anthelmintic properties. Traditionally, it has been employed to treat conditions such as flatulence, atonic dyspepsia, diarrhea, abdominal tumors, abdominal pain, piles, bronchial issues, lack of appetite, galactogogue, asthma, and amenorrhea as it possesses properties of Muhallil, Mudirr-i-Bawl-o-Hayd, Dafa e Tafun, Jali, Habis etc. Modern research supports these claims while also revealing its potential in treating kidney stones, abortion, and aflatoxin detoxification.
 Conclusion: Trachyspermum ammi holds great promise as a natural resource for novel therapies, owing to its extensive array of bioactive components and established pharmacological effects. Further investigation into its mechanisms of action and optimization of extraction techniques could lead to more efficient utilization of this valuable medicinal plant.
 Keywords: Ajwain, Nankhawah, Trachyspermum Ammi Linn, Mudirr-i-Bawl-o-Hayd, Hazim, Thymol, Appetizer.

The Effect of The Number of Section on The Growth of Vanilly Plant Cuttings (Vanilla planivolia Andrews)

The vanilla plant (Vanilla planifolia Andrews) is one of a spice plants that has economic value and the global demand for vanilla continues to increase along with the development of industries that rely on vanilla raw materials. One of the factors that contributing to the vanilla low production is the limited availability of cuttings as a source of section. One effort required to increase vanilla plant production is by using good section as well as paying attention to the number of segments on vanilla plant cuttings. This research aims to determine the effect of the number of segments on the growth of vanilla plant cuttings (Vanilla planifolia Andrews). The experimental design used in this research was a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) which consisted of 5 treatments and 3 replications so that there were 15 treatment units, namely R1 = 1 segment, R2 = 2 segments, R3 = 3 segments, R4 = 4 segments, and R5 = 5 segments. The observational data from the treatment was processed statistically. If the results of the analysis have a real effect then a further test is carried out with BNJ at a real level of 5%. The parameters observed were shoot height (cm), number of leaves (strands), and shoot diameter (cm). The results of the research showed that the treatment of the number of cutting segments had a very significant effect on the growth parameters of shoot height, number of leaves and shoot diameter of vanilla plant seedlings with the best treatment obtained in the R4 treatment (4 segments).

Cardioprotective Effect of Hydroalcohol Extract of Andaliman (Zanthoxylum acanthopodium DC.) Fruits on Doxorubicin-Induced Rats.

Andaliman (Zanthoxylum acanthopodium DC.) fruit is a spice plant widely used in North Sumatra. The chemical content in the Andaliman plant has a cardioprotective effect, with antioxidant properties that inhibit oxidative stress and free radicals. SOD (superoxide dismutase), BNP (Brain Natriuretic Peptide), and cTnT (troponin T) are measured as markers of heart damage, and histopathology is to see heart damage. Quercetin administration was used as a comparison. The hydroalcoholic extract's phytochemical content and chemical elements were analyzed using LC-HRMS and GC-MS. The findings showed that the hydroalcohol extract of Andaliman fruits affected the blood levels of SOD, BNP, and cTnT in the blood of doxorubicin-induced rats. SOD levels increased, and BNP decreased; the 300 mg/kg BW group was not significantly different from the 50 mg/kg BW quercetin group. cTnT levels also decreased; the 150 mg/kg BW and 300 mg/kg BW groups were not significantly different, and both were better than the 50 mg/kg BW quercetin group. EAF with 150 mg/kg BW and 300 mg/kg BW can also repair damage to rat heart tissue caused by doxorubicin. Andaliman fruit extract has cardioprotective effects and anti-free radical activity due to its content and potential to be developed.

Intermittent drying of Lippia origanoides: influence of the process on the quality of the extract and energy consumption

This study investigated the effect of intermittent drying on the specific energy consumption, plant extract yield, content of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity of L. origanoides leaves. Drying tests were carried out at the Postharvest Laboratory of Medicinal, Aromatic and Spice Plants of the Agricultural Engineering Department of the Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brazil (20 ° 46 '13, 5 ”S; 42 ° 52 ' 23.3 ”W, and 645 m altitude) in June 2019. The experiment was conducted using a 3 × 4 factorial scheme matching three drying temperatures (50, 60 and 70 °C), with two drying methods: drying continuous and intermittent drying (with three intermittent ratios between drying and resting in minutes: 10/20, 15/15 and 20/10). The design used was completely randomized and with three replications. Drying with a 10/20 intermittency ratio reduced the specific energy consumption during the drying of L. origanoides leaves at 50 and 70 °C. The application of the 10/20 intermittency ratio maximized the yield of plant extract during the drying of the leaves of L. origanoides at 60 and 70 °C. Drying with a 10/20 intermittency ratio maximized the content of total phenolic compounds and total flavonoids at all evaluated drying air temperatures. Intermittent drying did not significantly affect the antioxidant activity of the plant extract of L. origanoides leaves.

EFISIENSI TEKNIS PRODUKSI TANAMAN JAHE DI PROVINSI JAWA TIMUR: PENDEKATAN STOCHASTIC FRONTIER ANALYSIS

<em>Ginger is a spice and medicinal plant that much needed by industry and society. However, ginger production decreased and even experienced a trade balance deficit. One solution that can be done is through intensification or efficiency improvement, especially in the largest ginger-producing province in Indonesia, namely East Java Province. The data used is raw data of Cost Structure of Horticultural Cultivation Household Survey (SOUH) 2018. The results of the analysis using Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) show that four factors of production, namely land area, number of workers, amount of seeds used, and amount of fertilizer used, can increase ginger production significantly with a fairly high level of technical efficiency. However, technical inefficiencies are still found which cause ginger production to not be maximized. There are seven from eight variables that have a significant effect, namely farmer age, farmer education level, farmer group participation, pest control, receiving farm assistance, use of credit, and land ownership status. Meanwhile, the variable of farmer gender has no significant effect.</em>

8-shogaol derived from dietary ginger alleviated acute and inflammatory pain by targeting TRPV1

Ginger, a well-known spice plant, has been used widely in medicinal preparations for pain relief. However, little is known about its analgesic components and the underlying mechanism. Here, we ascertained, the efficacy of ginger ingredient 8-Shogaol (8S), on inflammatory pain and tolerance induced by morphine, and probed the role of TRPV1 in its analgesic action using genetic and electrophysiology approaches. Results showed that 8S effectively reduced nociceptive behaviors of mice elicited by chemical stimuli, noxious heat as well as inflammation, and antagonized morphine analgesic tolerance independent on opioid receptor function. Genetic deletion of TRPV1 significantly abolished 8S’ analgesia action. Further calcium imaging and patch-clamp recording showed that 8S could specifically activate TRPV1 in TRPV1-expressing HEK293T cells and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. The increase of [Ca2+]i in DRG was primarily mediated through TRPV1. Mutational and computation studies revealed the key binding sites for the interactions between 8S and TRPV1 included Leu515, Leu670, Ile573, Phe587, Tyr511, and Phe591. Further studies showed that TRPV1 activation evoked by 8S resulted in channel desensitization both in vitro and in vivo, as may be attributed to TRPV1 degradation or TRPV1 withdrawal from the cell surface. Collectively, this work provides the first evidence for the attractive analgesia of 8S in inflammatory pain and morphine analgesic tolerance mediated by targeting pain-sensing TRPV1 channel. 8S from dietary ginger has potential as a candidate drug for the treatment of inflammatory pain.