Planta Med 2010; 76 - P567
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1264865

The effect of ginger juice on the gastrointestinal tract is not fully explained by its known constituen

T Hague 1, D Naughton 1, P Andrews 2
  • 1Kingston University, Life Sciences, Main Building Penrhyn Road Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom
  • 2St George's University of London, Basic Medical Sciences, Cranmer Terrace, SW17 0RE London, United Kingdom

Ginger, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, is used to treat digestive disorders in particular to alleviate symptoms of nausea [1]. [6]-Gingerol (6G) is one of the main constituents in ginger and is reported to have anti-oxidant properties [2]. The aims of this study were to use HPLC and ICP-AES to measure the concentration of 6G, and elements in fresh ginger rhizome juice (GJ) and investigate their effects on the upper gastrointestinal tract. In vitro isometric recording was used to investigate GJ (200µL), 6G [1.59×10–5M), a selected combination of elements (K [4.6×10–2M], Mg [7.4×10–3M], Mn [8.3×10–4M], Na [1.1×10–3M], Ca [5.1×10–4M]), and a „faux“ ginger juice on contractile activity of proximal and distal stomach and duodenal segments from Suncus murinus (house musk shrew). The concentration of 6G in GJ was 239.4±7.9mg/L. GJ caused a pro-longed inhibitory effect on duodenal contractions and a biphasic effect on the stomach resulting in an overall increase in tension at 25 minutes. „Faux“ GJ did not fully account for the motility effects of GJ, indicating other bioactive constituents were present in GJ (e.g. [6]-shogaol). GJ was most effective on the duodenum (48.3% inhibition of contraction tone), this could be a target for an enteric coated ginger capsule for gastrointestinal disorders.

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2. Kim, JK. et al. (2007) Free Radic. Res. 41:603–614.