Zingiber officinale
Ginger
Zingiber officinale, commonly known as ginger, is a perennial herbaceous plant celebrated globally for its potent medicinal properties. Belonging to the Zingiberaceae family, its aromatic rhizome is widely utilized in traditional medicine to alleviate nausea, reduce inflammation, and aid digestion, making it a cornerstone of holistic wellness.
- Scientific name: Zingiber officinale
- Family: Zingiberaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Zingiberales, it is further categorized into the family Zingiberaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Zingiber, specifically known as Zingiber officinale.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Zingiberales | WCVP |
| Family | Zingiberaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Zingiber | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Zingiber officinale, is recognized by various common names across different languages and cultures. In Chinese, it is referred to as 薑 (zh), while in Javanese, it is called Jaé (jv). Its traditional name in Tibetan is བཅའ་ལྒ། (bo), and it is known as imbir lekarski (pl) in Polish. Additionally, in the Basque language, the plant is called Jengibre (eu).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 薑 | Wikidata |
| jv | Jaé | Wikidata |
| bo | བཅའ་ལྒ། | Wikidata |
| pl | imbir lekarski | Wikidata |
| eu | Jengibre | Wikidata |
| qu | Awirinri | Wikidata |
| gd | Dinnsear | Wikidata |
| ang | Gingifer | Wikidata |
| bs | Đumbir | Wikidata |
| ta | இஞ்சி | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a widespread presence across several tropical regions. In West-Central Tropical Africa, its distribution includes the Gulf of Guinea Islands. The species is also well-established throughout the Western Indian Ocean. Specifically, it can be found in the Comoros, Mauritius, and Madagascar. Finally, its geographical range extends to the island of Réunion within the same oceanic region.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Gulf of Guinea Is. | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Comoros | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Mauritius | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Madagascar | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Réunion | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Rodrigues | WCVP |
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Taiwan | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Zingiber officinale, is most commonly valued for its underground stems, which are frequently referred to as the ginger root. These fleshy rhizomes, or more broadly the rhizomes of the plant, serve as the primary source of its medicinal properties and distinctive aroma. Within these structures, high concentrations of essential oils are stored, providing the plant with its characteristic pungent scent and therapeutic benefits. In addition to the rhizomes, the plant also produces long, green leaves that contribute to its overall biological structure.- Total parts
- 25
- Scientific sources
- 60
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| rhizome | 21 | ★★★★★ |
| rhizomes | 10 | ★★★★★ |
| ginger root | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Essential oils | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ginger rhizome | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| young rhizomes | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| volatile oil | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| thin white peel | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tender flesh | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Zingiber officinale has 243 reported phytochemicals identified across 478 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include gingerol, 6-gingerol, flavonoids, 6-shogaol, [6]-gingerol.
- Total chemicals
- 243
- Scientific sources
- 478
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| gingerol | 24 | ★★★★★ |
| 6-gingerol | 23 | ★★★★★ |
| flavonoids | 20 | ★★★★★ |
| 6-shogaol | 14 | ★★★★★ |
| [6]-gingerol | 12 | ★★★★★ |
| saponins | 10 | ★★★★★ |
| shogaol | 10 | ★★★★★ |
| ginger | 9 | ★★★★☆ |
| terpenoids | 9 | ★★★★☆ |
| flavonoid | 8 | ★★★★☆ |
Activities
Zingiber officinale has 52 reported activities identified across 184 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Anticancer, Antimicrobial, Antibacterial, Antiviral.
- Total activities
- 52
- Scientific sources
- 184
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 47 | ★★★★★ |
| Anticancer | 14 | ★★★★★ |
| Antimicrobial | 12 | ★★★★★ |
| Antibacterial | 10 | ★★★★★ |
| Antiviral | 8 | ★★★★☆ |
| Analgesic | 7 | ★★★★☆ |
| Antidiabetic | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| Antihypertensive | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| Antiemetic | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antiinflammatory | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Zingiber officinale has 295 reported medicinal uses identified across 572 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include oxidative stress, COVID-19, cancer, inflammation, nausea.
- Total uses
- 295
- Scientific sources
- 572
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| oxidative stress | 22 | ★★★★★ |
| COVID-19 | 21 | ★★★★★ |
| cancer | 21 | ★★★★★ |
| inflammation | 20 | ★★★★★ |
| nausea | 19 | ★★★★★ |
| obesity | 10 | ★★★★★ |
| vomiting | 8 | ★★★★☆ |
| Escherichia coli | 7 | ★★★★☆ |
| hypertension | 7 | ★★★★☆ |
| breast cancer | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |