Zingiber
Zingiber, commonly known as ginger, is a versatile medicinal plant prized for its potent therapeutic properties. Belonging to the Zingiberaceae family, its pungent rhizomes are rich in bioactive compounds like gingerol. Renowned for aiding digestion, reducing inflammation, and alleviating nausea, it remains a cornerstone in traditional and modern medicine.
- Scientific name: Zingiber
- Family: Zingiberaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Zingiberales and the family Zingiberaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Zingiber.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Zingiberales | WCVP |
| Family | Zingiberaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Zingiber | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several tropical regions. In West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found around the Gulf of Guinea Islands. Its presence extends significantly into the Western Indian Ocean, where it inhabits the Comoros and Madagascar. Additionally, the species is located within the Chagos Archipelago. Finally, its range includes the island of Mauritius.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Gulf of Guinea Is. | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Chagos Archipelago | 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 |
Activities
Zingiber has 2 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antimicrobial.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |