Storage Conditions Influence the Quality of Ginger – A Stability Study Inspired by Clinical Trials

Abstract

Ginger has traditionally been used to treat and prevent nausea and vomiting; however, the results of clinical trials are ambiguous. The efficacy of ginger is attributed to gingerols and their metabolites, shogaols. Since these compounds have different pharmacological profiles, the clinical efficacy of ginger products is largely dependent on their chemical composition. The goal of our study was to examine the stability of ginger, determining the 6-gingerol contents in order to assess the effects of different storage conditions. We have performed a 6-month stability test with dry ginger rhizome samples stored in a constant climate chamber in three different storage containers (uncovered glass container, glass container sealed with rubber stopper, and plastic container). The 6-gingerol contents were measured by HPLC method. The concentration of 6-gingerol decreased in all samples. In the sealed glass container, the decrease in 6-gingerol content was significantly lower than in the unsealed glass container and in the plastic container. These results demonstrate that storage conditions have a significant impact on the quality of ginger, which may also affect efficacy.

Keywords

Ginger - Zingiber officinale - gingerol - HPLC - stability - Zingiberaceae

Publication History

Received: 18 January 2024

Accepted after revision: 07 March 2024

Accepted Manuscript online:
08 March 2024

Article published online:
10 April 2024

• References

• 1 Mahawer SK, Kumar R, Prakash O, Arya S, Singh S, de Oliveira MS, Rawat DS. A Comprehensive Review on Phytochemistry, Ethnopharmacology, and Pharmacological Properties of Zingiber roseum (Roxb.) Roscoe. Curr Top Med Chem 2023; 23: 931942
• 2 Nikkhah Bodagh M, Maleki I, Hekmatdoost A. Ginger in gastrointestinal disorders: A systematic review of clinical trials. Food Sci Nutr 2019; 7: 96
• 3 Tóth B, Lantos T, Hegyi P, Viola R, Vasas A, Benkő R, Gyöngyi Z, Vincze Á, Csécsei P, Mikó A, Hegyi D, Szentesi A, Matuz M, Csupor D. Ginger (Zingiber officinale): An alternative for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting. A meta-analysis. Phytomedicine 2018; 50: 8-18
• 4 Crichton M, Marshall S, Marx W, McCarthy AL, Isenring E. Efficacy of ginger (Zingiber officinale) in ameliorating chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and chemotherapy-related outcomes: A systematic review update and meta-analysis. J Acad Nutr Diet 2019; 119: 2055-2068
• 5 Viljoen E, Visser J, Koen N, Musekiwa A. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect and safety of ginger in the treatment of pregnancy-associated nausea and vomiting. Nutr J 2014; 13: 20
• 6 An K, Zhao D, Wang Z, Wu J, Xu Y, Xiao G. Comparison of different drying methods on Chinese ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe): Changes in volatiles, chemical profile, antioxidant properties, and microstructure. Food Chem 2016; 197 Pt B: 1292-1300
• 7 Bhattarai S, Van Tran H, Duke CC. The stability of gingerol and shogaol in aqueous solutions. J Pharm Sci 2001; 90: 1658-1664
• 8 Wohlmuth H, Leach DN, Smith MK, Myers SP. Gingerol content of diploid and tetraploid clones of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe). J Agric Food Chem 2005; 53: 5772-5778
• 9 Ghasemzadeh A, Jaafar HZE, Baghdadi A, Tayebi-Meigooni A. Formation of 6-, 8- and 10-shogaol in ginger through application of different drying methods: altered antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. Molecules 2018; 23: 1646
• 10 Cheng XL, Liu Q, Peng YB, Qi LW, Li P. Steamed ginger (Zingiber officinale): Changed chemical profile and increased anticancer potential. Food Chem 2011; 129: 1785-1792
• 11 Govindarajan VS, Connell DW. Ginger – chemistry, technology, and quality evaluation: Part 1. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 1982; 17: 1-96
• 12 Afzal M, Al-Hadidi D, Menon M, Pesek J, Dhami MS. Ginger: an ethnomedical, chemical and pharmacological review. Drug Metabol Drug Interact 2001; 18: 159-190
• 13 Ali BH, Blunden G, Tanira MO, Nemmar A. Some phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological properties of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe): A review of recent research. Food Chem Toxicol 2008; 46: 409-420
• 14 Ghasemzadeh A, Jaafar HZE, Rahmat A. Changes in antioxidant and antibacterial activities as well as phytochemical constituents associated with ginger storage and polyphenol oxidase activity. BMC Complement Altern Med 2016; 16: 1-11
• 15 Semwal RB, Semwal DK, Combrinck S. Viljoen AM, Gingerols and shogaols: Important nutraceutical principles from ginger. Phytochemistry 2015; 117: 554-568
• 16 Pertz HH, Lehmann J, Roth-Ehrang R, Elz S. Effects of ginger constituents on the gastrointestinal tract: role of cholinergic M3 and serotonergic 5-HT3 and 5-HT4 receptors. Planta Med 2011; 77: 973-978
• 17 Abdel-Aziz H, Windeck T, Ploch M, Verspohl EJ. Mode of action of gingerols and shogaols on 5-HT3 receptors: binding studies, cation uptake by the receptor channel and contraction of isolated guinea-pig ileum. Eur J Pharmacol 2006; 530: 136-143
• 18 Community herbal monograph on Zingiber officinale Roscoe. rhizoma. EMA/HMPC/749154/2010. London.
• 19 Gao Y, Lu Y, Zhang N, Udenigwe CC, Zhang Y, Fu Y. Preparation, pungency and bioactivity of gingerols from ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe): a review. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2022; 22: 1-26