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Medicinal Plant details |
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Information |
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| Sanskrit Name |
Adrakam, Sringiverum (WOA, 1998). |
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| Common name in English |
Ginger |
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| Botanical Name |
Zingiber officinale Roscoe
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| Etymology |
Ardrika and Ardraka: That which waters the tongue. Sunti: That which overcomes diseases due to kapha. Nagara: That which is commonly found in towns. Katutkajausna: Drug having pungent taste. |
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| Historical Accounts |
The history of ginger is intereting . It has been used as spice and a medicine from very early times by the Chinese and the Indians, there being numerous references to it in Chinese medical treaties and in sanskrit literature. The ancient greeks And romans regarded the spice as being Arabian origin, owing to the fact that they obtained supplies of it by way of the Red sea. The use of ginger for spicing beer, and the modern equivalent ginger beer, is highly esteemed today as a beneficial cordial in cold weather. |
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| Parts Used |
Rhizome |
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| Human Medicinal Usage |
It is hot, cordial, aphrodisiac, easy for digestion. It cures vomiting, dyspnoea, cough, anorexia, fever, anaemia, swelling, elephantiasis, flatulence, colic, piles, dysmia, and constipation (Anandakumar et al., 1983; Al-Yahya et al., 1989; Anandakumar et al., 1989; Donata et al., 1990; Kapoor, 1997; Battinelli et al,. 1998; ; Jana et al., 1999; Goel and Sairam, 2002). It promotes digestive power, cleans the throat and tongue and dispels cardiac disorders. Its sprouts or shoots do not have any conspicous taste. They aggravate vata and kapha. when the leaves are full grown they are used for repelling the impurity of blood. it is germicidal. It is chiefly used to cure diseases due to the morbidity of kapha and vata. Adark is recommended for leprosy and ulcers (Rao, 1977; Ramachandran et al., 1984; Mascola et al., 1989; Srivastava and Mustafa, 1989; Mustafa and Srivastava, 1990; Sertie et al., 1992; Nanda et al., 1993; ; Srivastava, 2000; Vishwakarma et al., 2002; Pakrashi and Pakrashi, 2003; Sontakke et al., 2003). With lime juice and rocksaly increases appetite and stimulates the secretion of gastric juice. The juice of ada with molasses is used for swelling and dropsy, it also cures dyspepsia.
Dry ginger taken along with Tinospora cordifolia alleviates body pain. (Piyari, 1998). |
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| Veterinary Medicinal Usage |
A powdered mixture of 500 g roots of vacha, 500 g zhonkhra (Artemira scopoliria), 200 g methi , 200 g ajwain, 100 g saunth (dry ginger) and 100 g black salt has antipyretic/analgesic effect in cattle. To treat tears in animals eyes, a pinch of dried ginger and pepper powder is applied to the eyes (Vivekanandan, 2002).
A solution of 5g hing(Ferula asafoetida), 25g dry ginger, 100g black salt, 50g soova dana(Anethum sowa), 25g ajma(Trachyspermum ammi) and 500g of jaggery is boiled alongwith one litre of water. The solution is boiled till the amount of water is reduced to half. After cooling the solution the animal is made to drink it. This cures the animal from tympany within three hours. To prevent indigestion in calves, one hundred grams of rock salt, dry ginger powder, powder of Andrographis paniculata are mixed together and stored in bottle. This mixture is fed to the animal at regular intervals (Gadhvi, 1999).
Fifty grams of dried ginger (Zingiber officinale), 500g of tender leaves of guava (Psidium guajava) are to be cut and pound together. This is made into bolus and administered to five or six calves at a time. This is an effective cure for diarrhoea caused by intestinal worms (Gadhvi, 1999). Tea leaves (Camellia sinensis) black pepper (Piper nigrum) and dry ginger (Zingiber officinale) are dissolved in two glasses of water and boiled. After cooling, the solution is given to the cattle to drink. This dose is given once a day for two days and the cattle is relieved of its fever (Gadhvi, 1999).
In case of anorexia, giddiness and cough, a few drops of a concoction made out of pepper and dried ginger is applied in the nostril, ears and the eyes of the sick animal (Gadhvi, 1999). When animals stop passing stool and urine, they suffer of severe stomachache, in such case they may be fed boiled ginger. The animals get immediate relief (Piyari, 1998).
Three handful of Perumarundhu (Aristolochia indica) leaves along with roots, 15g of dried ginger, 15 g of arisithippili (Piper longum), 15 gof omam (Ptychotisa jowan)and 15 g of turmeric are pounded together and made into three boli. One bolus may be given in the morning, another in the evening and the third in the next morning. This treatment is believed to cure fever, cough, anorexia and bloat (Piyari, 1998). Anorexic animals are usually fed a mixture salt, turmeric,'sunth'(ginger), 'jira'(cumin),asafoetida, ajvan,kalimirch (black papper)etc. These ingredients are carminative and also help in building up an appetite and in expelling gases from rumen (stomach) (Patel, et al. 1993).
To control enteritis, dried ginger (100 g) pepper seeds (2 in numbers) are pounded together and diluted in water and orally administered to the animal (Vivekanandan, 1995). For stronger legs and longer leaps,horses are fed with Jaggery (50 g), one egg, 'ghee' (25g), dry ginger powder (25 g) mixed with jowar flour every day (Chauhan, et al. 1996). Often animals suffer from indigestion and fever. Ten grams each of garlic, fresh ginger, dried ginger; asafoetida and pepper are pounded and mixed with 50 g of jaggery. The mixture is made into balls and fed to the animal. This helps in curing the animal (Vivekanandan,1997).
Fermented decoction of the storage tissue of Withania somnifera, leaves of Gynan-dropsis pentaphylla, stem of Cissus quadrangularis, white onion, pepper and ginger is mixed with the same quantity of buttermilk. A litre of this mixture is given to the affected animal to cure asthma (Prakash, 1997). Dry ginger (Zingiber officinale) is pounded into powdered form and fried in ghee and made into little balls. Three balls are fed to the diseased animal once in a day which reduces the cold and gives relief to the animal within a short while (Piyari, 1998) |
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| Agriculture Usage |
Ginger rhizome powder can be used for efficient storage of pulses (Gavint, 2000-2001). Ginger is used as an ingredient in masala bolus used for controlling pests mainly in horticultural crops (Singaravel, 2002). Ginger, chilli, nochi (Vitex negundo), garlic, leaves of sotrukatralai (Aloe vera) and neem seeds are used for the preparation of herbal pesticide (Taviyad, 2003). Ginger extract along with neem oil, garlic extract, chilli extract washing powder and cow urine helps i n controlling a variety of pests in crops (Pastakia, 1995).
To prevent diseases and insects in mango crop, it is advised to grow coriander, mint, ginger and turmeric in the mango orchards (Annonymous, 1998). Ginger can also be used for effective storage. Ginger can also be used for effective storage. |
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| Other Usage |
Ginger is used as a spice in food (Taviyad, 2003).
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| Synonyms |
Zingiber missionis Wall., Amomum zingiber Rosc., Curcuma longifolia Wall. Cal. |
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| Family |
Zingiberaceae |
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| Description |
The plant is a perennial herb about 1 m highwith sympodial branching rhizome, jointed with aromatic root-stock havingseveral sessile lateral tubers with an annual elongate erect leafy shoot 60 cmto one m in height bearing simple alternate distinchous narrowoblong-lanceolate to distinchous narrow oblong-lanceolate to lanceolate leaves15 to 30 cm long and 2 to 3 cm broad with sheathing bases, the blade graduallytapering to a point and on lateral radicle slender peduncles 15 to 30 cm longcylindric - oblong spikes 3.8 to 7.5 cm long and 2-5 cm broad) of largebracteate greenish yellow, zygomorphic, epigynous flowers with small darkpurple or purplish black lips. The plant flowers only very rarely probably on accountof domestication and continued propagation by vegetative methods extending overcenturies. Flowering time is usually in the rainy season (WOA, 1998). |
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| Common Name in India |
Ada (Bengali); Ada, Adark (Hindi); Allamu, Sonti (Telugu); Allam, Sangai, Sundi (Tamil); Andrakam (Malayalam) (WOA, 1998).
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| Common Name in Other Countries |
Gingembre (French); Zenzero (Italian); Jengibre (Spanish); Ingwer (Dutch); Khyenseing (Burma); Ingetaer (Denmark); Ingwer (German); Zingiber (Brazil).
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| Habitat |
Ginger requires a warm and humid climate. The crop prefers light shade for good growth (WOA, 1998). |
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| Rainfall |
A well-distributed rainfall (150-300 cm.) during the growing season and dry spells during land preparation as well as before harvesting are required for large scale cultivation of the crop. In areas receiving less rainfall, the crop needs regular irrigation (WOA, 1998). |
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| Soil (Physical/Chemical) |
It can be grown in a wide range of well-drain soils of at least 30 cm.depth; heavy laterite loam, red laterite, and clayey loam are found suitablefor the crop; it is also grown in rich, black and clayey soils under tankirrigation. Lateritic loams containing not more than 30 per cent sand or 20 percent clay and free from gravel are, however, preferred, as they give higher yields (WOA, 1998). |
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| Regional Distribution |
The plant is universally known and widely cultivated all over the warm parts pf India. Its nativity however is definately known. It is known to have been grown in India from very ancient times and there is no record of its being found in a wild condition.
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| Global Distribution |
It is cultivated on a large scale in India, Bangladesh, Taiwan, Jamaica, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, from where it is exported to other countries the world over. Ginger is cultivated also for internal consumption in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and several East Asiatic countries, and the crop has been introduced into Queensland in Australia. Tropical and eastern Asia, Malayasia (Kirtikar & Basu, 1935).
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| Harvest |
Collection is done in December or January when the plants wither after flowering period. rhizomes are dug out, aerial stems, fibrous roots and buds are removed. they are washed, peeled on flat surface as well as between the fingers and thoroughly washed in running water. rhizomes are dried completely by keeping in the sun on mats which are covered over-nights in rain and cloudy seasons. After drying it loses about 70% of its original weight. Jamaica ginger: Peeled and unbleached Cochin ginger: partially peeled and bleached using lime. Less aromatic, pungency same as Jamaica ginger
African ginger: Same as Jamaica ginger. darker and smaller ginger. It is perfectly washed and coated. More pungent but lacks in aroma of Jamaica ginger. |
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| Pests / Diseases |
Ginger is prone to several diseases, some of which may cause heavy losses. Rhizomerot or soft rot is a serious disease found all over the ginger-growing areas in India. Pythium aphanidermatum Fitzp. P. gracile Schenk and Fusarium sambucinum Fuckel are generally associated with the rotting. The symptoms appear during the rainy season when the crop is 0.5-0.6 m. in height. Some of the young leaves become yellow and begin to die; meanwhile the collar, which is also affected, becomes very watery and soft and the plant can easily be pulled out.
The shoot-borer, Dichocrosis punctiferalis Guen. is the only serious pest that damages the crop. The caterpillars bore the central shoots of the plants which turn yellow and dry. Thrips, Thrips tabaci Lind., are also reported to attack the growing crop in parts of Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. The scale-insect, Aspidiotus hartii Ckll. attacks the ccrop in the field as well as the seed-rhizome in storage. The grubs and adults of the spice-beetle, Stegobium paniceum Linn. feed on dry ginger in warehouses. The grub tunnels the rhizome by cutting microscopic holes and continues feeding from inside. |
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| Chemical composition |
Ginger contains small quantities of glucose, fructose and sucrose; raffinose is probably present in traces. The principal carbohydrate of the rhizome is starch. The free amino acids present in ginger include glutamic acid, aspartic acid, serine, glycine, threonine, alanine, glutamine, arginine, g-aminobutyric acid, valine, phenylalanine, asparagine, lysine, cystine, histidine, leucines, proline and pipecolic acid.
The oil contains sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (50% or more), sesqui-terpene alcohols, monoterpenoids and associated compounds. The occurrence of esters of acetic and caprylic acids and a trace of phenol has also been reported. The predominant sesquiterpene hydrocarbon is zingiberene; other sesquiterpenes present in the oil are ar-curcumene (17.7%), farnesene (9.8%) and relatively smaller amounts of beta-bisabolene, g-selinene, beta-elemene and beta-sesquiphellandrene. The sesquiterpene alcohol, zingiberol (C15H26O), which is a mixture of beta-eudesmol stereoisomers, occurs in the oil. Two other isomeric alcohols and a crystalline diol (m.p. 126 degree) have been reported. The monoterpene hydro-carbons present in the oil include camphene, a- and beta-pinene, cumene, myrcene, limonene, p-cymene and beta-phellandrene. The oxygenated mono-terpenes and associated compounds present are 2-heptanol, 2-nonanol, n-nonanol, n-decanol, methyl heptenone; 1,8-cineole, borneol, bornyl acetate, linalool, geranial and neral. Few other constituents are: beta-bisabolene, 5-12%; ar-curcumene, 6-19% and beta-sesquiphellandrene, 7-12%. The citral (geranial and neral) content is highly variable;
The pungent principles of ginger are oxymethyl phenols.
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PLACE OF PUBLICATION |
VOLUME/ISSUE |
YEAR |
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| 13 |
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| 14 |
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| 15 |
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| 18 |
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| 19 |
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| 22 |
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