The effect of ginger (Zingiber Officinale) as an ancient medicinal plant on improving blood lipids

Association between traditional Korean fermented vegetables (kimchi) intake and serum lipid profile: using the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) cohort

PURPOSE

Dyslipidemia is a major health issue worldwide. There is growing interest in understanding the potential role of kimchi consumption on serum lipid profiles. However, there are limited epidemiological studies available on this topic. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the association between kimchi intake and serum lipid profiles.

METHODS

We conducted an epidemiological study on participants (aged 40-69 years old) selected from the Health Examinees (HEXA) cohort study (n = 61,761). Four types of kimchi, including Baechu kimchi (cabbage kimchi), Kkakdugi (radish kimchi), Nabak kimchi/Dongchimi (a type of water kimchi made with fermented vegetables), and other kimchi, were assessed by a 106-food item semi-quantitative validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Each kimchi intake is the average value calculated from the FFQ of the baseline and follow-up surveys. Fasting blood data were obtained at baseline and follow-up visits. Linear regression was used to examine the relationship between the intake of kimchi and the change in serum lipid profiles.

RESULTS

The mean years between the baseline survey and a follow-up survey was 4.97 years. In this study, compared to the lowest category (< 1 serving/day), Baechu kimchi intake (2- < 3 servings/day) had more negative correlations with the change in values of total cholesterol (β: -1.600, 95% confidence interval [CI, -2.744, -0.456]), triglycerides (β: -3.372, 95% CI [-5.414, -1.330]), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (β: -1.155, 95% CI [-2.214, -0.095]) in women. In men, Baechu kimchi intake (2- < 3 servings/day) had a more positive correlation associated with the changes in values of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (β: 0.049, 95% CI [0.031, 0.907]) compared to the lowest intake category (< 1 serving/day).

CONCLUSIONS

Among Korean adults, consumption of kimchi, particularly Baechu kimchi, was found to be associated with improvements in serum lipid profiles. Further studies are required to conduct additional interventions to confirm the association between kimchi and serum lipid profiles.

Effect of zinc oxide nanocomposite and ginger extract on lipid profile, glucose, pancreatic tissue and expression of Gpx1 and Tnf-α genes in diabetic rat model

BACKGROUND

Diabetes is a life-threatening health condition that requires expensive treatment and places a significant financial burden on society. Consequently, this study aimed to explore the potential of low and high concentrations of ginger extract, ZnO-NPs, and a combination of both to help manage diabetes and reduce high levels of lipids in diabetic rats.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The research focused on agglomerated nanoparticles under 100 nm, specifically ZnO nanoparticles. The size of the nanoparticles was determined using X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy analysis, with a monodisperse particle size distribution of 20 to 48 nm and an average size of 38 nm, as shown by dynamic light scattering. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed the presence of typical peaks of ginger extract and ZnO-NPs in the nanocomposite structure. The pancreatic tissue histopathological study indicated that a concentration of 10 mg/kg of the composite had the most significant antidiabetic effect compared to other treatments. Lower concentrations could significantly reduce and balance fasting blood sugar and triglycerides levels while also increasing the high-density lipoproteins levels. However, all treatments induced a significant decrease in total cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins levels. Only metformin and ZnO-NPs in lower concentrations could decrease very low-density lipoproteins levels. The molecular technique showed that a low concentration of the composite led to the most significant decrease in Tnf-α gene expression compared to the diabetic group. The expression of the glutathione peroxidase 1 (Gpx1) gene in treated groups had no significant difference with the level of Gpx1 expression in the control rats.

CONCLUSIONS

In general, this study demonstrated that lower concentrations of the treatments, especially composite, were more effective for treating diabetic rats due to reduced pancreatic tissue damage.

Extraction, Characterization, and Bioactivity of Phenolic Compounds-A Case on Hibiscus Genera

Phenolic compounds have recently gained interest, as they have been related to improvements in health and disease prevention, such as inflammatory intestinal pathologies and obesity. However, their bioactivity may be limited by their instability or low concentration in food matrices and along the gastrointestinal tract once consumed. This has led to the study of technological processing with the aim of optimizing phenolic compounds' biological properties. In this sense, different extraction systems have been applied to vegetable sources for the purpose of obtaining enriched phenolic extracts such as PLE, MAE, SFE, and UAE. In addition, many in vitro and in vivo studies evaluating the potential mechanisms of these compounds have also been published. This review includes a case study of the Hibiscus genera as an interesting source of phenolic compounds. The main goal of this work is to describe: (a) phenolic compound extraction by designs of experiments (DoEs) applied to conventional and advanced systems; (b) the influence of the extraction system on the phenolic composition and, consequently, on the bioactive properties of these extracts; and (c) bioaccessibility and bioactivity evaluation of Hibiscus phenolic extracts. The results have pointed out that the most used DoEs were based on response surface methodologies (RSM), mainly the Box-Behnken design (BBD) and central composite design (CCD). The chemical composition of the optimized enriched extracts showed an abundance of flavonoids, as well as anthocyanins and phenolic acids. In vitro and in vivo studies have highlighted their potent bioactivity, with particular emphasis on obesity and related disorders. This scientific evidence establishes the Hibiscus genera as an interesting source of phytochemicals with demonstrated bioactive potential for the development of functional foods. Nevertheless, future investigations are needed to evaluate the recovery of the phenolic compounds of the Hibiscus genera with remarkable bioaccessibility and bioactivity.

Evaluation of Different Advanced Approaches to Simulation of Dynamic In Vitro Digestion of Polyphenols from Different Food Matrices-A Systematic Review

Phenolic compounds have become interesting bioactive antioxidant compounds with implications for obesity, cancer and inflammatory gastrointestinal pathologies. As the influence of digestion and gut microbiota on antioxidant behavior is yet to be completely elucidated, and due to limitations associated to in vivo studies, dynamic in vitro gastrointestinal models have been promoted. A systematic review was conducted of different databases (PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus) following PRISMA guidelines to assess different dynamic digestion models and assay protocols used for phenolic compound research regarding bioaccesibility and interaction with colonic microbiota. Of 284 records identified, those including dynamic multicompartmental digestion models for the study of phenolic compound bioaccesibility, bioactivity and the effects of microbiota were included, with 57 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. Different conditions and experimental configurations as well as administered doses, sample treatments and microbiological assays of dynamic digestion studies on polyphenols were recorded and compared to establish their relevance for the dynamic in vitro digestion of phenolic compounds. While similarities were observed in certain experimental areas, a high variability was found in others, such as administered doses. A description of considerations on the study of the digestion of phenolic compounds is proposed to enhance comparability in research.

Essential oils of Zingiber officinale: Chemical composition, in vivo alleviation effects on TPA induced ear swelling in mice and in vitro bioactivities

Zingiber officinale (ZO) is a traditional food condiment. The essential oils of Z. officinale (ZOEOs) are known to have multiple bioactivities. In this study, gas chromatography mass spectrometer (GC-MS) analytical method was used to identify active ingredient present in ZOEOs. A total of 41 compounds were identified in ZOEOs. Major components in ZOEOs were zingiberene (19.71%), (+)-β-cedrene (12.85%), farnesene (12.17%), α-curcumene (10.18%) and β-elemene (3.54%). Experimental results of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13 acetate (TPA) induced ear swelling validation mice model showed that ZOEOs treatment has better anti-inflammatory effect compared with ibuprofen (positive control) at high concentrations. Histological and immunohistochemical analysis showed that ZOEOs significantly decreased COX-2, IL-6 and NF-κB expression in a dose dependent manner. The mRNA levels of COX-2 and NF-κB were also down regulated by the application of ZOEOs. This indicated that ZOEOs exhibited positive effects in ear skin protection. Antibacterial experimental results showed that EOZOs had anti-bacterial effects on Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. DPPH radical scavenging, A549 cell line and LNCaP cell line inhibition results indicated that ZOEOs exhibited potential antioxidant and anti-tumor properties. The findings of these study provide scientific basis on therapeutic use of ZO in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.

Immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory therapeutic potential of gingerols and their nanoformulations

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe), a member of the Zingiberaceae family, is one of the most popular spices worldwide, known since ancient times, and used both as a spice and a medicinal plant. The phenolic compounds found in ginger are predominantly gingerols, shogaols, and paradols. Gingerols are the major phenolic compounds found in fresh ginger and contain mainly 6-gingerol as well as 4-, 5-, 8-, 10-, and 12-gingerols. Gingerols possess a wide array of bioactivities, such as antioxidant and anticancer, among others. Regarding the different array of biological activities and published data on the mechanisms underlying its action, the complex interaction between three key events, including inflammation, oxidative stress, and immunity, appears to contribute to a plethora of pharmacological activities of this compound. Among these, the immunomodulatory properties of these compounds, which attract attention due to their effects on the immune system, have been the focus of many studies. Gingerols can alleviate inflammation given their ability to inhibit the activation of protein kinase B (Akt) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathways, causing a decrease in proinflammatory and an increase in anti-inflammatory cytokines. However, given their low bioavailability, it is necessary to develop new and more effective strategies for treatment with gingerols. In order to overcome this problem, recent studies have addressed new drug delivery systems containing gingerols. In this review, the immunomodulatory activities of gingerol and its underlying mechanisms of action combined with the contributions of developed nanodrug delivery systems to this activity will be examined.

The Cholesterol-Modulating Effect of the New Herbal Medicinal Recipe from Yellow Vine (Coscinium fenestratum (Goetgh.)), Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe.), and Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) on Suppressing PCSK9 Expression to Upregulate LDLR Expression in HepG2 Cells

PCSK9 is a promising target for developing novel cholesterol-lowering drugs. We developed a recipe that combined molecular docking, GC-MS/MS, and real-time PCR to identify potential PCSK9 inhibitors for herb ratio determination. Three herbs, Carthamus tinctorius, Coscinium fenestratum, and Zingiber officinale, were used in this study. This work aimed to evaluate cholesterol-lowering through a PCSK9 inhibitory mechanism of these three herbs for defining a suitable ratio. Chemical constituents were identified using GC-MS/MS. The PCSK9 inhibitory potential of the compounds was determined using molecular docking, real-time PCR, and Oil red O staining. It has been shown that most of the active compounds of C. fenestratum and Z. officinale inhibit PCSK9 when extracted with water, and C. fenestratum has been shown to yield tetraacetyl-d-xylonic nitrile (27.92%) and inositol, 1-deoxy-(24.89%). These compounds could inhibit PCSK9 through the binding of 6 and 5 hydrogen bonds, respectively, while the active compound in Z. officinale is 2-Formyl-9-[.beta.-d-ribofuranosyl] hypoxanthine (4.37%) inhibits PCSK9 by forming 8 hydrogen bonds. These results suggest that a recipe comprising three parts C. fenestratum, two parts Z. officinale, and one part C. tinctorius is a suitable herbal ratio for reducing lipid levels in the bloodstream through a PCSK9 inhibitory mechanism.

Fungicidal properties of ginger (Zingiber officinale) essential oils against Phytophthora colocasiae

Recently, plant essential oils (EOs) have attracted special attention in plant disease control and food preservation. Since ancient times, essential oils extracted from plants have exhibited many biological characteristics, especially antimicrobial properties. Recent studies have described the potentials of EOs and derivatives to inhibit the growth and reproduction of microorganisms, mainly in response of overwhelming concerns of consumers about food safety. In the context of returning to nature, with the advancement of science and technology and improved living standards, people have begun to seek solutions for food hygiene without chemical additives. Therefore, biological pesticides and plant-oriented chemicals have received special attention from scientists because they are environmentally friendly and nonhazardous, sustainable, and effective alternatives against many noxious phytopathogens. Present study is intended to appraise the fungicidal properties of ginger EOs to combat leaf blight disease of taro, which threatens global taro production. Farmers often hinge on extremely toxic synthetic fungicides to manage diseases, but the residual effects and resistance of chemicals are unavoidable. The microwave-assisted hydrodistillation method was used for ginger EOs extraction and an FTIR (ATR) spectrometer was used to evaluate their chemical composition and citral was identified as most abundant compound (89.05%) in oil. The pathogen isolated from lesions of diseased taro plants was identified as Phytophthora colocasiae and used as test fungus in the present study. Ginger EO was evaluated in-vitro for antifungal properties against mycelium growth, sporangium production, zoospore germination, leaf, and corm necrosis inhibition. Repeated experiments have shown that the concentration of ginger essential oil (1250 ppm) proved to be the lowest dose to obtain 100% inhibition of fungal growth and spore germination, sporangia formation and leaf necrosis assessment. These results are derived from this fungal species and a hypothesis that involves further research on other plant pathogens to demonstrate the overall potency of essential oils. This study references the easy, economic, and environmental management and control of plant diseases using essential oils and byproducts.

Ginger: a systematic review of clinical trials and recent advances in encapsulation of its bioactive compounds

Recently, the numbers of studies on natural products have considerably increased owing to their exceptional biological activities and health benefits. Their pharmacological attributes have played an immense role in detecting natural and safe alternative therapeutics, consequently extending their industrial applications. In this line, ginger (Zingiber officinale) has been gaining wide attention owing to its bioactive compounds, such as phenolic and terpene compounds. Ginger has a great pharmacological and biological potential in the prevention and treatment of various diseases, namely colds, nausea, arthritis, migraines and hypertension. However, these bioactive compounds are unstable and susceptible to degradation, volatilization and oxidation during extraction and processing, mainly owing to their exposure to environments with adverse conditions, such as high temperature, the presence of O2 and light. In this sense, this current review covers a wide range of topics, starting from the chemical profile and biological properties of ginger bioactive compounds (GBCs), their clinical effectiveness for the treatment of diseases and the application of different encapsulation methods (molecular inclusion, spray drying, complex coacervation, ionic strength and nanoemulsions) to protect and improve their application in food products. This work summarizes the fundamental principles of, recent progress in and effectiveness of different methods regarding the physicochemical, structural and functional properties of encapsulated GBCs. The potential use of encapsulated GBCs as a promising active ingredient to be applied in different food products is discussed in detail.

Improved oral bioavailability, cellular uptake, and cytotoxic activity of zingerone via nano-micelles drug delivery system

Herein, a nano-micelle drug delivery system was developed to orally improved zingerone's bioavailability and its antitumor effect. Indeed, zingerone-loaded d-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate micelles (ZTMs) were effectively prepared, characterised and assessed. The ZTMs had diameter, polydispersity index, and zeta potential of 50.62 ± 0.25 nm, 0.168 ± 0.006, and -28.07 ± 0.33 mV, respectively, coupled with a high entrapment efficiency (m/m, %) were 94.71 ± 2.02. The release rate of ZTMs in three media was significantly greater than that of free zingerone. Intriguingly, results obtained from pharmacokinetic studies showed that the oral bioavailability of the ZTMs was enhanced by 5.10 times in comparison with the free zingerone. Further, the half inhibitory concentration (IC50) of ZTMs and free zingerone was 7.56 μg/ml and 14.30 μg/ml, respectively, on HepG2 cells. Hence, ZTMs may be used as a potential approach to enrich the solubility, bioavailability, and concomitant anti-proliferative effect of zingerone in vitro.

Nasal Spray Formulations Based on Combined Hyalurosomes and Glycerosomes Loading Zingiber officinalis Extract as Green and Natural Strategy for the Treatment of Rhinitis and Rhinosinusitis

A total green nanotechnological nasal spray has been manufactured and proposed as an alternative treatment of rhinitis and rhinosinusitis. It was obtained by combining the strengthening effect of liposomes on barrier function, the hydrating and lubricating properties of sodium hyaluronan and the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of the extract of Zingiber officinalis. To this purpose, the extract was loaded in special phospholipid vesicles immobilized with hyaluronic acid (hyalurosomes), which were further enriched with glycerol in the water phase. Liposomes and glycerosomes were prepared as well and used as reference. Vesicles were oligolamellar and multicompartment, as confirmed by cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) observation, small in size (~140 nm) and negatively charged (~-23 mV). Spray characteristics were evaluated by using the Spraytec® and instant images, from which the plume angle was measured. The range of the droplet size distribution and the narrow spray angle obtained suggest a good nebulization and a possible local deposition in the nasal cavity. In vitro studies performed by using human keratinocytes confirmed the high biocompatibility of vesicles and their ability to effectively counteract oxidative damage on cells induced by hydrogen peroxide. The overall collected data suggest that our vesicles are suitable as nasal spray.

Ecofriendly Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Aqueous Extracts of Zingiber officinale (Ginger) and Nigella sativa L. Seeds (Black Cumin) and Comparison of Their Antibacterial Potential

Applications of chemical synthetic methods for the preparation of metal nanoparticles involve toxic reagents, which are hazardous to both humans and the environment. On the other hand, ecofriendly plant-based techniques offer rapid, non-toxic, and suitable alternatives to the traditional methods. Herein, we report an eco-friendly method for the preparation of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) using two different aqueous extracts of Zingiber officinale (ginger) and Nigella sativa L. seeds (black cumin). Successful preparation of Ag NPs was confirmed by X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet–visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis revealed that Nigella sativa L. seed extract (NSE) produced a smaller size of NPs (~8 nm), whereas the ginger extract (GE) led to the formation of slightly larger Ag NPs (~12 nm). In addition, to study the effect of concentration of the extract on the quality of resulting NPs, two different samples were prepared from each extract by increasing the concentrations of the extracts while using a fixed amount of precursor (AgNO3). In both cases, a high concentration of extract delivered less agglomerated and smaller-sized Ag NPs. Furthermore, the antibacterial properties of as-prepared Ag NPs were tested against different bacterial strains. Notably, despite the slightly better quality of Ag NPs obtained from NSE (NSE-Ag), NPs prepared by using GE (GE-Ag) demonstrated superior antibacterial properties. In case of the plant-extract-based synthesis of nanoparticles, it is widely reported that during the preparation, the residual phytomolecules remain on the surface of resulting NPs as stabilizing agents. Therefore, in this case, the high antibacterial properties of GE-Ag can be attributed to the contributing or synergetic effect of residual phytomolecules of GE extract on the surface of Ag NPs, since the aqueous extract of GE has been known to possess higher intrinsic bactericidal properties when compared to the aqueous NSE extract.

Alternative processing technology for the preparation of carbonized Zingiberis Rhizoma by stir-frying with sand

Context: Carbonized ginger, a type of charry herb, has been used as a hemostatic medicine since ancient times. However, there are some serious problems such as inhomogeneous heating and emitting smoke during processing with traditional stir-frying method.Objective: To investigate the feasibility to obtain carbonized ginger by stir-frying with sand instead of stir-frying method.Materials and methods: Dried-ginger (100 g) was processed by stir-frying for 30 min at 270 ± 10 °C, or by stir-frying with sand (1:10, w/w) for 8 min at 240 ± 5 °C. The HPLC fingerprint was established for two samples. The adsorption capacity and major components including tannins, gingerols, shogaols and gingerone were quantitated by UV and HPLC, respectively. The hemostatic effect by prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) was evaluated in vitro.Results: The similarity of the two samples for HPLC fingerprints was >0.93. The sand-fried samples showed significantly higher adsorption capacity compared with the stir-fried samples (4.915 vs. 4.593 mg/g; p < 0.05) and higher contents of major components (4.698 vs. 3.930 mg/g, 1.352 vs. 1.144 mg/g, 2.419 vs. 2.095 mg/g, 0.666 vs. 0.568 mg/g and 1.083 vs. 0.911 mg/g for tannins, gingerone, 6-shogaol, 8-shogaol and 10-shogaol, respectively; p < 0.05); while no significant differences were seen for 6-gingerol, 8-gingerol and 10-gingerol (p > 0.05). The PT and APTT values were similar between the stir-fried and sand-fried test groups and significantly lower compared to controls (p < 0.05).Conclusions: The carbonizing process by stir-frying with sand is superior to the stir-frying method for carbonized ginger.

Ethnomedicinal Plants Used for the Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases by Healers in the Southwestern State of Paraná, Brazil, and Their Validation Based on Scientific Pharmacological Data

Cardiovascular diseases are responsible for high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. Among treatment options, medicinal plants are frequently used, especially in developing countries, such as Brazil. Despite social development that has been observed in the last decades, the use of medicinal plants is still driven by popular knowledge, especially by healers. The present study sought to identify medicinal species that are used for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases by healers in the microregion of Francisco Beltrão, Paraná, Brazil. The snowball technique was used to select informants, and data were collected through interviews. The research was performed in two stages: (1) a structured interview and (2) the collection and botanical identification of the species that were mentioned by the healers. Medicinal plants were classified into the following categories of cardiovascular agents: hypotensive and antihypertensive agents, lipid-lowering agents, diuretic agents, and cardiotonic agents. To analyze the data, the frequency was determined, Spearman correlations were calculated, and the informant consensus factor (ICF) and use value were obtained. Some characteristics, such as female gender and old age, were associated with knowledge about medicinal plants. Overall, 77 different species and 149 medicinal uses were cited by the healers. With regard to categories of use, the highest number of species was found among lipid-lowering plants, and the highest ICF was found for species that are used as cardiotonics. Moreover, a literature review indicated that among the cited species, several still lack studies that have proven their effects on the cardiovascular system. The traditional use of medicinal plants for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases is broad in the study regions. The present results are important for clarifying popular knowledge in this region and providing a framework for selecting species with potential for the development of new pharmacological studies.

Effects of ultrafine grinding on physicochemical, functional and surface properties of ginger stem powders

BACKGROUND

Ginger stem (GS) is a by-product of ginger processing. It is not directly edible as a feed or food, which leads to it being discarded as waste or burned. Accordingly, it is very important to develop new functional products in the food or feed industry as a result of high nutritional and medicinal values. In the present study, the structures and physicochemical properties of GS powders of different sizes were evaluated after ultrafine grinding by a vibrating mill.

RESULTS

The ultrafine powders exhibited a smaller particle size and uniform distribution. Higher values in bulk density (from 1.07 ± 0.06 to 1.62 ± 0.08 g mL-1 ), oil holding capacity (from 3.427 ± 0.04 to 4.83 ± 0.03 g mL-1 ), and repose and slide angles (from 42.33 ± 1.52 to 54.36 ± 1.15° and 33.62 ± 0.75 to 47.27 ± 1.34°, respectively) of ultrafine GS powders were exhibited compared to coarse powders. With a reduced particle size, the solubility of ultrafine powders increased significantly (P < 0.05), whereas the water holding and swelling capacities decreased with a reduced particle size and then increased. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis showed that ultrafine grinding did not damage the main cellular structure of GS powder. The reduction of fiber length and particle size in GS was observed by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The X-ray diffraction patterns demonstrated the crystallinity and the intensity of the peak in superfine GS powders.

CONCLUSION

The present study suggests that ultrafine grinding treatments influence the structures and physicochemical properties of GS powders, and such changes would improve the effective utilization of GS in the food or feed industry. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Evaluation of Terpene Variability in the Volatile Oils from Zingiber officinale using Chemometrics

Background:

Ginger oil poses various pharmacological properties corresponding to its terpene composition which depends upon the preparation method along with the sample variety.

Objecive:

This work aims to explore the variability in the derived oil associated with the hydrodistillation settings i.e. sample freshness/dryness, size reduction process, and heating duration using chemometric approaches.

Methods:

The extraction process was evaluated with a two-level full factorial design where the volatile oils were hydrodistillated and characterized by gas chromatographic-mass spectrometry. The multivariate dataset ascertained was further explored with principal component analysis.

Results:

According to the outcomes from the design, the yield could be quantitatively improved by using fresh sample, with reduced particle thickness and longer extraction cycle. The clastering patterns from principal component analysis revealed the domination of monoterpenes in the extracts from fresh samples; sesquiterpenes in the grated samples; whereas heating duration demonstrated antagonistic effect between monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes.

Conclusion:

These findings suggest the importance of experimental conditions in driving the yield and quality of ginger extracts according to the requirement of the industries.

Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activities of Distillates Purified by Means of Molecular Distillation from Ginger Extract Obtained with Supercritical CO2 Fluid

The ginger extract obtained with supercritical CO2 fluid was purified by molecular distillation (MD), and the chemical compositions, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of ginger extract and its distillates were investigated. Analysis revealed that the ginger extract was rich in terpene hydrocarbons, along with oxygenated terpenes and other non-volatile compounds. The MD distillates were prepared in a series of stages and the active compounds like terpenes and gingerols could be separated by MD. The major compounds of the distillates purified by MD at 40 °C, 80 Pa and 60 °C, 80 Pa were terpene hydrocarbons. Additional distillates obtained by MD at 80 °C, 80 Pa and 100 °C, 60 Pa were predominated by terpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated terpenes. Until the operating conditions of MD reached 150 °C and 2 Pa, some non-volatile compounds were concentrated in the final distillate. Moreover, antioxidant activities and the cytotoxic effects on three human cancer cells in final MD distillate were superior to other extracts, and this phenomenon could be mainly supported by the phenols. The MD could be used to prepare ginger distillates with better antioxidant and cytotoxic activities.