[6]-Gingerol exhibits potent anti-mycobacterial and immunomodulatory activity against tuberculosis.

The currently available anti-tuberculosis treatment (ATT) comprises exclusively of anti-bacterial drugs, is very lengthy, has adverse side effects on the host and leads to the generation of drug-resistant variants. Therefore, a combination therapy directed against the pathogen and the host is required to counter tuberculosis (TB). Here we demonstrate that [6]-Gingerol, one of the most potent and pharmacologically active ingredients of ginger restricted mycobacterial growth inside the lungs, spleen and liver of mice infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). The spleen of [6]-Gingerol treated mice displayed increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and enhanced Th1/Th17 responses confirming the immunomodulatory action of [6]-Gingerol. Finally, [6]-Gingerol displayed an excellent potential as an adjunct drug, along with front line anti-TB drug isoniazid. Interestingly, [6]-Gingerol displayed stark anti-tubercular activity against dormant/starved bacilli and drug-resistant variants of Mtb. Taken together, these results indicate strong prospects of [6]-Gingerol as an adjunct anti-mycobacterial and immunomodulatory drug for the treatment of drug-susceptible and drug-resistant strains of TB.

Effect of ginger extract on expression of GATA3, T-bet and ROR-yt in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with Allergic Asthma

Introduction and objectives: Allergic asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways. Th1, Th2 and Th17 cells are the main cells involved in the pathophysiology of asthma. The function of these cells is affected by T-bet, GATA3 and RORgammat transcription factors (respectively). Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ginger (officinal Roscoe) extract on the expression of T-bet, GATA-3 and ROR-gamma in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of asthmatic patients, in comparison with healthy volunteers as controls. Materials and methods: In this case-control study, a total of 50 individuals including 25 patients with severe, moderate and mild allergic asthma and 25 unrelated healthy controls were involved. The PBMCs were isolated and divided into four groups: negative control, two positive controls (Budesonide and PHA) and ginger-extract treated group. After cell treatment and incubation for 48h, PBMCs were isolated and cDNA was synthesized. Gene expressions of T-bet, GATA3 and ROR-γt were evaluated by Real-time PCR. Results: According to the results of this study, hydroalcoholic extract of ginger could reduce the expression of GATA-3, ROR-gammat, and T-bet in PBMCs of asthmatic patients in comparison with untreated PBMCs (P values = 0.001, 0.001, and 0.002, respectively). It was also shown that the ginger extract could affect T-bet/GATA-3, T-bet/ROR-gamma, and ROR-gammat/GATA-3 expression ratios. Conclusions: This study showed that the use of ginger extract could control asthma and decrease the severity of this disease by affecting the main cells involving the symptoms of asthma in the airways

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Effect of Differential Thermal Drying Conditions on the Immunomodulatory Function of Ginger.

Thermal drying is a common process used in the food industry for the modification of agricultural products. However, while various studies have investigated the alteration in physiochemical properties and chemical composition after drying, research focusing on the relationship between different dehydration conditions and bioactivity is scarce. In the current study, we prepared dried ginger under nine different conditions by varying the processing time and temperature and compared their immunomodulatory effects. Interestingly, depending on the drying condition, there were significant differences in the immunestimulating activity of the dried ginger samples. Gingers processed at 50°C 1h displayed the strongest activation of macrophages measured by TNF-α and IL-6 levels, whereas, freezedried or 70°C- and 90°C-dried ginger showed little effect. Similar results were recapitulated in primary bone marrow-derived macrophages, further confirming that different dehydration conditions can cause significant differences in the immune-stimulating activity of ginger. Induction of ERK, p38, and JNK signaling was found to be the major underlying molecular mechanism responsible for the immunomodulatory effect of ginger. These results highlight the potential to improve the bioactivity of functional foods by selectively controlling processing conditions.

Effect of ginger extract on expression of GATA3, T-bet and ROR-γt in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with Allergic Asthma.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Allergic asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways. Th1, Th2 and Th17 cells are the main cells involved in the pathophysiology of asthma. The function of these cells is affected by T-bet, GATA3 and RORγt transcription factors (respectively). Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ginger (officinal Roscoe) extract on the expression of T-bet, GATA-3 and ROR-γ in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of asthmatic patients, in comparison with healthy volunteers as controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this case-control study, a total of 50 individuals including 25 patients with severe, moderate and mild allergic asthma and 25 unrelated healthy controls were involved. The PBMCs were isolated and divided into four groups: negative control, two positive controls (Budesonide and PHA) and ginger-extract treated group. After cell treatment and incubation for 48h, PBMCs were isolated and cDNA was synthesized. Gene expressions of T-bet, GATA3 and ROR-γt were evaluated by Real-time PCR. RESULTS: According to the results of this study, hydroalcoholic extract of ginger could reduce the expression of GATA-3, ROR-γt, and T-bet in PBMCs of asthmatic patients in comparison with untreated PBMCs (P values=0.001, 0.001, and 0.002, respectively). It was also shown that the ginger extract could affect T-bet/GATA-3, T-bet/ROR-γt, and ROR-γt/GATA-3 expression ratios. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the use of ginger extract could control asthma and decrease the severity of this disease by affecting the main cells involving the symptoms of asthma in the airways.

Effects of black seed (Nigella sativa), ginger (Zingiber officinale) and cone flower (Echinacea angustifolia) on the immune system of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss / Efeitos de semente preta (Nigella sativa), gengibre (Zingiber officinale) e Flor-de-cone (Echinacea angustifolia) no sistema imunológico de truta arco-íris, Oncorhynchus mykiss

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of dietary essential oils of ginger (Zingiber officinale), black seed (Nigella sativa) and cone flower (Echinacea angustifolia) on the immune system of cultured rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. A total of 360 fish were divided into 4 groups and 3 replicates each containing 30 fish. The fish were fed for 21 days with 1% of the herbal essential oils and with unsupplemented diet as the control group. Haematological and immune parameters including serum lysozyme, number of phagocytic bacteria, Hb, PCV, MCV, MCH, MCHC, number of RBC and WBC were studied. Treatments recorded enhancement in immune parameters compared to the control group. Significantly higher serum lysozyme level and phagocytic germs were detected in the groups fed black seed, ginger and cone flower (P<0.05). However, no significant difference was found in RBC, Hb, PCV, MCV, MCH and MCHC of fish fed the diets containing essential oils and the control group (P>0.05). The results of this study demonstrated that essential oils might strengthen the non-specific immunity of rainbow trout.(AU)

Avaliou-se a eficácia de uma dieta com semente preta (Nigella sativa), gengibre (Zingiber officinale) e Flor-de-cone (Echinacea angustifolia) sobre o sistema imunológico de truta arco-íris (Oncorhynchus mykiss) em cultivo. Um total de 360 peixes foram divididos em 4 grupos com 3 repetições cada, contendo 30 peixes. Os peixes foram alimentados por 21 dias com 1% de óleo essencial herbáceo e com dieta comercial não suplementada como controle. Parâmetros imunes e hematológicos incluindo soro lisozima, número de bactéria fagocítica, Hb, PCV, MCV, MCH, MCHC, número de RBC e WBC foram estudados. Os tratamentos registraram a melhoria em parâmetros imunes comparados ao grupo de controle. Foram detectadas concentrações de lisozima no soro e germes fagocíticos significativamente altos em grupos que receberam semente preta, gengibre e Flor-de-cone (P<0.05). Porém, não foi encontrada diferença significativa em RBC, Hb, PCV, MCV, MCH e MCHC nos peixes alimentados com dietas contendo óleos essenciais e no grupo de controle (P>0.05). Os resultados deste estudo demonstraram que óleos essenciais podem aumentar a imunidade não específica da truta arco-íris.(AU)

Ginger Extract Reduces the Expression of IL-17 and IL-23 in the Sera and Central Nervous System of EAE Mice.

BACKGROUND: IL-17/IL-23 axis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases such as experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and multiple sclerosis (MS). The immunomodulatory properties of ginger are reported in previous studies. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of ginger extract on the expression of IL-17 and IL-23 in a model of EAE. METHODS: EAE was induced in C57BL/6 mice by immunization with myelin oligodendroglial glycoprotein and then treated with PBS or ginger extracts, from day +3 to +30. At day 31, mice were scarificed and the expression of IL-17 and IL-23 mRNA in spinal cord were determined by using real time-PCR. The serum levels of cytokines were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: The mRNA expression of IL-17, IL-23 P19 and IL-23 P40 in CNS and serum levels of IL-17 and IL-23 were significantly higher in PBS-treated EAE mice than non-EAE group (p<0.003, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). In 200 mg/kg ginger-treated EAE mice the mRNA expression of IL-17, P19 and P40 in CNS and serum IL-23 levels were significantly decreased as compared to PBS-treated EAE mice (p<0.05, p<0.001, p<0.001 and p<0.05, respectively). Moreover, 300 mg/kg ginger-treated EAE group had significantly lower expression of IL-17, P19 and P40 in CNS and lower serum IL-17 and IL-23 levels than PBS-treated EAE group (p<0.02, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.03 and p<0.004, respectively). CONCLUSION: Ginger extract reduces the expression of IL-17 and IL-23 in EAE mice. The therapeutic potential of ginger for treatment of MS could be considered in further studies.

[Allergic rhinoconjunctivitis caused by occupational exposure to ginger]. / Allergisk rinokonjunktivitis pga. erhvervsmæssig udsættelse for ingefær.

We present a case report of occupational allergic rhinoconjunctivitis after exposure to dust from ginger-containing herbal medicine. The likelihood of an aetiological connection between exposure and the patient's symptoms was supported by a temporal association, positive specific IgE, positive histamine release test, positive prick test, and positive acoustic rhinometry test. Occupational allergy to ginger has rarely been reported. The cases described - including the one we present - suggest that work-related IgE-mediated allergy is associated with exposure to dry aerosols/dust.

Molecular characterization of ZzR1 resistance gene from Zingiber zerumbet with potential for imparting Pythium aphanidermatum resistance in ginger.

Soft rot disease caused by the oomycete Pythium aphanidermatum (Edson) Fitzp. is the most economically significant disease of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) in tropical countries. All available ginger cultivars are susceptible to this pathogen. However a wild ginger relative viz., Zingiber zerumbet L. Smith, was identified as a potential soft rot resistance donor. In the present study, a putative resistance (R) gene designated, ZzR1 was isolated and characterized from Z. zerumbet using sequence information from Zingiber RGCs identified in our earlier experiments. Analysis of the 2280 bp segment revealed a 2157 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a putative cytoplasmically localized protein. The deduced ZzR1 protein shared high homology with other known R-genes belonging to the CC-NBS-LRR (coiled coil-nucleotide binding site-leucine rich repeat) class and had a calculated molecular weight of 84.61kDa. Real-time PCR analysis of ZzR1 transcription in Z. zerumbet following pathogen infection demonstrated activation at 3 hpi thus suggesting an involvement of ZzR1 in Z. zerumbet defense mechanism. Although many R-genes have been characterized from different taxa, none of them will help in the development of resistant ginger cultivars owing to the phenomenon of "Restricted Taxonomic Functionality" (RTF). Thus ZzR1 gene characterized from the resistant wild Zingiber accession represents a valuable genomic resource for ginger improvement programs. This first report on R-gene isolation from the Zingiber secondary gene pool is pivotal in designing strategies for engineering resistance in ginger, which is otherwise not amenable to conventional improvement programs owing to sexual reproduction barriers.

Efecto in vitro de una solución de Zingiber officinale Rosc. (jengibre) sobre la respuesta de linfocitos humanos de donantes sanos y enfermos con inmunodeficiencia celular / In vitro effect of a solution of Zingiber officinale Rosc. (Ginger) on the response of human lymphocytes from healthy donors and patients with cellular immunodeficiency

El Zingiber officinale Rosc. (jengibre) es una especie que se ha utilizado por el hombre con diversos fines. Se estudió el efecto in vitro de una solución acuosa del rizoma de esta planta sobre los linfocitos de 30 donantes voluntarios de sangre y de 30 enfermos con diagnóstico de inmunodeficiencia celular, mediante la prueba de transformación linfoblástica, con el empleo de timidina tritiada, la técnica de formación de roseta activa y el ultramicrométodo inmunocitoquímico (UMICIQ). No se hallaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre las condiciones experimentales sin jengibre y con jengibre, con diluciones de este desde 1:2 hasta 1:2048 en la prueba de transformación linfoblástica. En la roseta activa y en los marcadores de activación HLA-DR y CD25 no se observaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los linfocitos sin jengibre y los cultivados con la dilución 1:128, tanto en los donantes sanos como los enfermos(AU)

The Zingiber officinale Rosc (ginger) is a species used by man to different purposes. The in vitro effect of a aqueous solution from the rhizome of this plant on the lymphocytes of 30 volunteer blood donors and of 30 patients diagnosed with cellular immunodeficiency was studied by the lymphoblastic transformation test using tritiated thymidine, the technique of the rosette active formation and the immunocytochemical ultramicromethod (UMICIQ). There were not statistically significant differences among the experimental conditions with and without ginger with dilutions from 1:2 to 1:128 in the lymphoblastic transformation test. In the active rosette and in markers of the HLA-DR and CD25 activation there weren't statistically significant differences among lymphocytes without ginger and those cultured with a dilution 1:128 for healthy donors and for the patients(AU)

Efecto in vitro de una solución de Zingiber officinale Rosc. (jengibre) sobre la respuesta de linfocitos humanos de donantes sanos y enfermos con inmunodeficiencia celular / In vitro effect of a solution of Zingiber officinale Rosc. (Ginger) on the response of human lymphocytes from healthy donors and patients with cellular immunodeficiency

El Zingiber officinale Rosc. (jengibre) es una especie que se ha utilizado por el hombre con diversos fines. Se estudió el efecto in vitro de una solución acuosa del rizoma de esta planta sobre los linfocitos de 30 donantes voluntarios de sangre y de 30 enfermos con diagnóstico de inmunodeficiencia celular, mediante la prueba de transformación linfoblástica, con el empleo de timidina tritiada, la técnica de formación de roseta activa y el ultramicrométodo inmunocitoquímico (UMICIQ). No se hallaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre las condiciones experimentales sin jengibre y con jengibre, con diluciones de este desde 1:2 hasta 1:2048 en la prueba de transformación linfoblástica. En la roseta activa y en los marcadores de activación HLA-DR y CD25 no se observaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los linfocitos sin jengibre y los cultivados con la dilución 1:128, tanto en los donantes sanos como los enfermos

The Zingiber officinale Rosc (ginger) is a species used by man to different purposes. The in vitro effect of a aqueous solution from the rhizome of this plant on the lymphocytes of 30 volunteer blood donors and of 30 patients diagnosed with cellular immunodeficiency was studied by the lymphoblastic transformation test using tritiated thymidine, the technique of the rosette active formation and the immunocytochemical ultramicromethod (UMICIQ). There were not statistically significant differences among the experimental conditions with and without ginger with dilutions from 1:2 to 1:128 in the lymphoblastic transformation test. In the active rosette and in markers of the HLA-DR and CD25 activation there weren't statistically significant differences among lymphocytes without ginger and those cultured with a dilution 1:128 for healthy donors and for the patients

Some medicinal plants as immunostimulant for fish.

Immunostimulant effects of the dietary intake of various medicinal plant extracts on fish, rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), were investigated. For this purpose fish were fed with diets containing aqueous extracts of mistletoe (Viscum album), nettle (Urtica dioica), and ginger (Zingiber officinale). Food containing lyophilized extracts of these plants as 0.1 and 1% was used at a rate of 2% of body weight per day for three weeks. At the end of the experimental period, various parameters of non-specific defence mechanisms, including extracellular and intracellular respiratory burst activities, phagocytosis in blood leukocytes and total plasma protein level were examined. Specific growth rates (SGRs) and condition factors (CFs) of the fish were also measured. Plant materials tested for immunostimulatory food additives caused an enhanced extracellular respiratory burst activity (P<0.001) compared to the control group. Especially the rainbow trout fed with a diet containing 1% aqueous extract of powdered ginger roots for three weeks exhibited a significant non-specific immune response. Phagocytosis and extracellular burst activity of blood leukocytes were significantly higher in this group than those in the control group. All plant extracts added to fish diet increased the total protein level in plasma except 0.1% ginger. The highest level of plasma proteins was observed in the group fed with 1% ginger extract containing feed.