Here is an essay on ‘Ginger’ for class 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Find paragraphs, long and short essays on ‘Ginger’ especially written for school and college students.
Essay on Ginger
1. Essay on Ginger (As an Anti-Carcinogenic):
Ginger has been shown to possess chemo-preventive and anti-carcinogenic property against 1, 2-dimethylhydrazine- induced colon cancer by virtue of its ability to lower the activities of the microbial enzymes beta-glucuronidase and mucinase. It is reported that [6], [8], and [10] gingerols had little or no effect but [6] shogaol significantly inhibited the growth of A-2780 ovarian cancer cells.
Kim et al. (2008) reported that [6]-shogaol exhibited much stronger growth-inhibitory effects on A-549 human lung cancer cells, SK-OV-3 human ovarian cancer cells, SKMEL-2 human skin cancer cells, and HCT-15 human colon cancer cells than [4]-, [6]-, [8]-, and [10]-gingerols. Shogaols are metabolized extensively in mouse and human to form thiol-conjugated metabolites and glutathione might play an important role in the cancer-preventive activity of ginger. Its metabolites are bioactive compounds, and the mercapturic acid pathway is one of the major biotransformation pathways of [6]-shogaol.
Nausea and vomiting are among the most prevalent and disturbing side effects of chemotherapy. Addition of ginger (1.5 g/d) to standard anti-emetic therapy (granisetron plus dexamethasone) in patients with advanced breast cancer effectively reduced the prevalence of nausea 6 to 24 hours post-chemotherapy although there was no other additional advantage in reducing prevalence or severity of acute or delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
Liu et al. (2012) demonstrated that terpenoids from Steam Distilled Extract of Ginger mediated apoptosis by activating p53 and therefore recommended further investigations as agents for the treatment of endometrial cancer.
The results of the animal pilot study conducted by Citronberg et al. (2013) suggest that ginger may reduce proliferation in the normal-appearing colorectal epithelium, and increase apoptosis and differentiation relative to proliferation especially in the differentiation zone of the crypts and support a larger study to further investigate these results.
TUNEL (Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling) assay indicated that apoptosis was triggered by metabolites M2, M13 of [6]-shogaol, and its two diastereomers M13-1 and M13-2. There was no significant difference between the apoptotic effect of [6]-shogaol and the effect of M2 and M13 after 6 hour treatment. The most active metabolite M2 had almost no toxicity to CCD-18Co and IMR-90 normal cells with IC (50)s of 99.18 and 98.30 µM, respectively.
2. Essay on Ginger (As an Anti-Cognitive Impairment):
According to Arabian folklore, ginger has been claimed to improve memory and has also been traditionally used as an ingredient for cognitive enhancement. Cognitive function and neurons density in hippocampus of rats receiving ginger rhizome extract were improved while the brain infarct volume was decreased. The cognitive enhancing effect and neuro-protective effect occurred partly via the anti-oxidant activity of the extract.
Ginger extract at doses of 400 and 800mg once daily for 2 months tested on working memory and cognitive function using computerized battery tests and the auditory oddball paradigm of event-related potentials at three different time periods of middle-aged healthy women significantly decreased P300 latencies, increased N100 and P300 amplitudes, and exhibited enhanced working memory.
3. Essay on Ginger (As an Anti-Fertility Foods):
Farnsworth and colleagues (1975) also reported ginger to have abortifacient qualities, but the active constituent responsible for this was not identified. Dose and time-dependent decreases in motility accompanied by concomitant decrease in grading 3 and 4 were noticed in human semen samples treated with methanolic extract of ginger. Accordingly Jorsaraei et al. (2008) concluded that ginger can induce the toxic effects on sperm parameters.
4. Essay on Ginger (As an Anti-Hyperlipidemic Foods):
Ginger is now exciting considerable interest for its potential to treat many aspects of cardiovascular disease. Rats fed with ethanolic extract of ginger 200 mg/kg, p.o along with cholesterol showed a significantly lower degree of atherosclerosis as compared to gemfibrozil, a standard orally effective hypolipidaemic drug indicating that ginger is definitely an anti-hyperlipidaemic agent.
Koo et al. (2001) and Nurtjahja-Tjendraputra et al. (2003) showed that gingerol compounds and their derivatives are more potent anti-platelet agents than aspirin. [8]-Paradol, a natural constituent of ginger, was found to be the most potent COX-1 inhibitor and anti-platelet aggregation agent. The mechanism underlying arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation inhibition may be related to attenuation of COX- 1/Tx synthase enzymatic activity.
Dosages of 5g or more demonstrated significant anti-platelet activity. More human trials are needed using an appropriate dosage of a standardised extract. If found positive, ginger has the potential to offer not only a cheaper natural alternative to conventional agents but one with significantly lower side effects.
Herbalists prescribe ginger after dinner to hypertensive patients. Interestingly, a few studies have been carried out to explore the BP-lowering potential of ginger extract. Previously, Weidner and Sigwart (2000) have observed that the standardized ethanol extract of dried ginger was not active on the systolic BP or heart rate in conscious rats when given orally. On the contrary, the ginger pungent principles, gingerol and shogaol, have been studied for their cardiovascular effects in laboratory animals and the precise mode of action remains to be elucidated.
Ghayur and Gilani (2005a) observed that the blood pressure lowering effect is mediated through blockade of voltage-dependent calcium channels. Fresh ginger crude extract, when injected intravenously in rats under anesthesia, evoked a dose-dependent fall in arterial BP which is in line with its traditional use in hypertension.
Ginger might delay blood clotting. Taking ginger along with medications that slower clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding. However, there is conflicting evidence related to the effect of ginger constituents on human platelets suggesting that recommended doses (less than 5 g) of ginger do not affect platelet aggregation.
Similarly, no significant effect was found by Jiang et al. (2005), on platelet aggregation and coagulation in healthy human subjects who received a daily dose of 3.6 g of ginger for 5 days. The authors also suggested that the co-administration of ginger at recommended doses is unlikely to cause problems in healthy persons because, ginger administered in herbal medicine products at recommended doses were found to affect the pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics of either S-warfarin or R-warfarin in humans, nor did they affect coagulation status.
In the United States, ginger is used to prevent motion and morning sickness. It is recognized as safe by the Food and Drug Administration and is sold as an unregulated dietary supplement.
5. Essay on Ginger (As an Anti-Inflammatory Foods):
For the past two or more decades, many researchers have provided scientific support for the long-held belief that ginger contains constituents with anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger suppresses prostaglandin synthesis through inhibition of cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2. It also suppresses leukotriene biosynthesis by inhibiting 5-lipoxygenase. This pharmacological property distinguishes ginger from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Ginger is reported in Ayurvedic and Tibb systems of medicine to be useful in rheumatic disorders. As early as 1989, Srivastava and Mustafa reported that prolonged use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroid drugs produce adverse side-effects, and administration of ginger powder was beneficial in relieving pain in the joints of rheumatoid and osteoarthritis arthritis without any side effects. Inhibition of inflammatory eicosanoids (prostaglandin and leukotriene biosynthesis) was suggested as the mechanism involved in the effect.
Penna et al (2003) demonstrated the anti-edematogenic activity of crude extract of ginger through its antagonistic effect on the serotonin receptor and thereby, reduction in the rat paws and skin edema. [6]-gingerol (25 mg/kg-50 mg/kg), the phytochemical isolate of ginger was also found to inhibit paw edema.
Ojewole (2006) confirmed the folkloric ethno-medical uses of ginger in the treatment and/or management of painful, arthritic inflammatory conditions, as well as in the management and/or control of type 2 diabetes mellitus in some rural African communities through pharmacological studies on the ethanol extract of ginger.
Different varieties of ginger were also found to be therapeutically beneficial. Shimoda et al (2010) found a potent suppressive effect of red ginger extract on acute and chronic inflammation through inhibition of macrophage activation. The effect has been attributed to [6]-Shogaol, gingerdiols, and proanthocyanidins.
Cellular studies on synoviocytes from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis subjects indicated anti-inflammatory effect of ginger extract which was comparable with that of an anti-inflammatory drug, betamethasone.
The phytochemical 1-dehydro-[10]-gingerdione (1D10G) has been shown to suppress NF- κb-associated inflammation in autoimmune disorders, which was also supported by Li et al (2012). The molecular target for anti-inflammatory action of 1D10G was reported to be Myeloid differentiation protein 2, a co-receptor of toll-like receptor 4 for innate immunity. Inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 expression was also a suggested anti-inflammatory mechanism of ginger extracts.
The role of ginger in neuro-degeneration, which is also recognised as an inflammatory condition is worth appreciation. 6-shogaol, one of the most bioactive components of ginger, can significantly attenuate a variety of neuro-inflammatory responses by inducing heat-shock protein (HSP70) that is associated with histone deacetylase (HDAC) 1 inhibition in cortical astrocytes. Ha et al. (2012) demonstrated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory role of 6-shogaol.
The proposed mechanisms included significant inhibition of (1) the release of nitric oxide (NO) and the expression of nitric oxide, synthase (iNOS) induced by lipo- polysaccharide (LPS), (2) the production of prostaglandin E(2) and pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α, and by down-regulating cyclooxygenase-2, mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor kappa B expression.
The effect was found to be better than that of other nitric oxide inhibitors such as 6-gingerol, wogonin, or N-monomethyl-l-arginine. In addition, 6-shogaol was found to suppress the microglial activation in vitro as well as in vivo. It also showed significant neuro-protective effects in vivo in transient global ischemia via the inhibition of microglia.
Again Habib et al. (2008) observed a significant correlation between NFkappaB and TNF-alpha in the choline-deficient diet group but not in the choline-deficient diet treated with ginger extract group. Thus, ginger acted as an anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory agent by inactivating NFkappaB through the suppression of the pro-inflammatory TNF-alpha.
Ueda et al. (2010) demonstrated the ability of orally administered ginger extract to induce an immune response in RAW 264 cells in mice by increasing the serum corticosterone level after oral administration. It also inhibited arachidonic acid- induced ear edema, but only on repeated administration.
The authors concluded that the augmentation of serum corticosterone level on repeated administration of the aqueous constituents of ginger was responsible for its anti-inflammatory activity. According to Han et al. (2012) 12-DHGD, a constituent of ginger, is a potent inhibitor of pro-inflammatory mediator production in Raw 264.7 macrophage cells.
Thomson et al. (2002) observed a significant reduction in the serum cholesterol at a low dose of ginger (50 mg/kg), only when ginger was administered intra-peritoneally, suggesting that ginger could be used as cholesterol-lowering, antithrombotic and anti-inflammatory agent.
Minghetti et al. (2007) reported that a commercial ginger dry extract (GDE) was more effective as an anti-inflammatory agent than a gingerol-enriched dry extract (GEDE) in mice, while testing the feasibility of the same in an anti-inflammatory plaster. The results indicated a possible application in humans.
6. Essay on Ginger (As an Antimicrobial Foods):
Ginger has been used for centuries to treat many infectious diseases like cholera, diarrhoea and chest congestion. Its use has been found especially effective in whooping cough. A teaspoon of the fresh ginger juice, mixed with a cup of fenugreek decoction and honey to taste, acts as an expectorant and diaphoretic in this disease. Its gingerol-related components have been reported to possess antimicrobial and anti-fungal properties.
Park et al (2008) revealed that the ethanol and n-hexane extracts of ginger exhibited anti-bacterial activities against three anaerobic Gram-negative bacteria, P. gingivalis, P. endodontalis and P. intermedia, causing periodontal diseases. Two highly alkylated gingerols, [10]-gingerol and [12]-gingerol effectively inhibited the growth of these oral pathogens at a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) range of 6-30 µg/ml. These ginger compounds also killed the oral pathogens at a minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) range of 4-20 µg/ml.
Throat swabs were collected from 333 individuals with running nostrils, cough and/or catarrh and S. aureus, S. pyogenes, S.pneumoniae and H. influenzae were isolated from the specimens using standard microbiological procedures. Ginger extracts exhibited anti-bacterial activity against the pathogens. The Minimum inhibitory Concentration ranged from 0.0003 to 0.7 µg/ml while Minimum Bactericidal Concentration ranged from 0.1.35 µg/ml to 2.04 µg/ml.
Earlier Goto et al. (1990) reported that an extract from Zingiber officinale, traditionally eaten along with raw fish and used in traditional Chinese medicine, effectively destroyed Anisakis larvae in vitro. Further experiments showed that [6]-Shogaol and [6]-gingerol, known neutral components of ginger, could kill Anisakis larvae at a minimal effective dose of 62.5 and 250 µg/ml, respectively.
Martins et al (2001) reported that the essential oils of ginger showed antimicrobial activity against all Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria tested, as well as against yeasts and filamentous fungi, using the agar diffusion method. Also, Norajit et al (2007) found the essential oil of ginger extracted by hydro distillation had the highest efficiency against three positive strains of bacteria (S. aureus, B. cereus and L. monocytogenes), with a minimum concentration to inhibit B. cereus and L. monocytogenes of 6.25 mg/mL.
Mango-ginger (Curcuma amada) is very similar to ginger with a raw mango taste. Difurocumenonol, a compound isolated and purified from mango-ginger extracts demonstrated high antibacterial activity against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. This novel compound can be used as food preservative to control the growth of food-borne pathogens and as a source of mango flavor in food products.
7. Essay on Ginger (As an Anti-Oxidant Foods):
Animals given orally ginger extract (1.5-5 g/kg) or polaprezinc (30 and 60 mg/ kg) once daily for three consecutive days after ulcer induction by 60 per cent acetic acid significantly reduced the gastric ulcer area in a dose-dependent manner, with concomitant attenuation of the elevated activities of xanthine oxidase and myeloperoxidase, as well as malondialdehyde level in the ulcerated mucosa.
Ginger extract and polaprezinc both show anti-oxidation that consequently alleviates gastric mucosal damage and promotes ulcer healing, thus together serving as effective mucosal protective agents.
8. Essay on Ginger (As an Anti-Ulcerogenic Foods)
Z. officinalis L. on gastric ulceration and secretion in rats indicated a significant protection against gastric ulcers induced by cold restraint stress, aspirin and pylorus ligation was studied by Agrawal et al. (2000). The proposed anti-ulcerogenic effects were augmentation of mucin secretion and decrease in cell shedding. Wu et al. (1990) reported that roasted ginger decoctions had an obvious inhibiting tendency on three gastric ulcer models except for the indomethacin induced model. On the other hand dry ginger showed no such effect.
While the exact mechanism of action is not clear, the plant contains active materials some of which have been identified to possess ulcer protective properties. 6-Gingersulfonic acid and three monoacyldigalactosyl glycerols including gingerglycolipids A, B and C have been isolated from dried rhizomes of Z. officinale which are potent anti-ulcer constituents. 6-Gingerol and 6-shogaol are two other components mainly responsible for ginger pungency are less potent as ulcer-protective.
Minaiyan et al (2006) concluded from their study that ginger hydroalcoholic extract was effective to protect against duodenal ulceration and for i.p. injection as well as chronic administration, the efficacy was comparable with ranitidine as reference drug. Anosike et al (2009) found the ginger extract to show good protective effect against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in rats.
Administration of the extract in doses of 100,200 and 400 mg/kg evinced a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the indomethacin- induced gastric erosion in all the experimental groups when compared to the control group. The per cent ulcer inhibition by the extract doses was comparable with that of ranitidine (100 mg/kg), the reference drug. These results confirm that ginger possess as good potential as an anti-ulcer agent.