Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

734 Zingiber zerumbet Rosc. ex.Sm.
Z
ha, Vishvaa, Vishvabheshaja,
Vishvaaushadha.
Unani ◮ Fresh rhizome—Zanjabeele-Ratab,
Al-Zanjabeel. Dried
rhizome—zanjabeel, Zanjabeel-eyaabis.
Siddha ◮ Fresh rhizome—Inji,
Allam, Lokottai. Dried rhizome—
chukku, Sunthi.
Action ◮ Rhizome—antiemetic,
antiflatulent, hypocholesterolaemic,
anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic,
expectorant, circulatory stimulant,
diaphoretic, increases bioavailability
of prescription drugs. Used
for irritable bowel and diarrhoea,
colds and influenza. Showed
encouraging results in migraine
and cluster headache (J Ethnopharmacol,
1990, 29, 267–273; Aust
JMedHerbalism,1995, 7/3, 69–
78; Natural Medicines Comprehensive
Database, 2007.) The
Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India
recommends dried rhizomes in
dyspepsia, loss of appetite, tympanitis,
anaemia, rheumatism, cough
and dyspnoea; fresh rhizomes in
constipation, colic, oedema and
throat infections.
Key application ◮ For dyspepsia
and prevention of motion sickness
(German Commission E); vomiting
of pregnancy, anorexia, bronchitis
and rheumatic complaints (The
British Herbal Compendium);
as a post-operative antiemetic.
(ESCOP).
The rhizome contains an essential
oil containing monoterpenes, mainly
geranial and neral; and sesquiterpenes,
mainly beta-sesquiphellandrene, betabisabolene,
ar-curcumene and alphazingiberene;
pungent principles, consisting
of gingerols, shogaols and related
phenolic ketone derivatives. Other
constituents include diarylheptenones,
diterpenes, gingesulphonic acid and
monoacyldigalactosyl glycerols.
Gingerol and shogaol have been
shown to suppress gastric contractions.
Both fresh and dried rhizomes
suppress gastric secretion and reduce
vomiting. Gingerol and shogaol have
gained importance due to their sedative,
anti-inflammatory, antipyretic,
analgesic, hypotensive and hepatoprotective
activities.
Cardiotonic effects of ginger has
been attributed to 6-and 8-shagaols
and gingerols. (Antithrombotic effects
remain unconfirmed.) Antimigraine
effect is due to ginger’s ability to decrease
platelet aggregation. It also acts
as a potent inhibitor of prostaglandins
which enhance release of substance P
from trigeminal fibers. (PDR, 2004.)
Indian ginger is considered only second
to Jamaican in quality.
There are three main types of Indian
ginger—Cochin ginger (light brown
or yellowish grey; Calicut ginger from
Malabar (orange or reddish brown, resembling
African ginger) and Kolkata
ginger (greyish brown to greyish blue).
Zingiber zerumbet Rosc. ex.Sm.
Synonym ◮ Z. spurium Koen.
Amomum spurium Gmel.
A. sylvestre Poir.
Family ◮ Zingiberaceae.