Effectiveness of ginger in reducing metabolic levels in people with diabetes: a randomized clinical trial

6-Gingerol alleviates ectopic lipid deposition in skeletal muscle by regulating CD36 translocation and mitochondrial function

Ectopic lipid deposition (ELD) and mitochondrial dysfunction are common causes of metabolic disorders in humans. Consuming too much fructose can result in mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolic disorders. 6-Gingerol, the main component of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe), has been proven to alleviate metabolic disorders. This study seeks to examine the effects of 6-gingerol on metabolic disorders caused by fructose and uncover the underlying molecular mechanisms. In this study, the results showed that 6-Gingerol ameliorated high-fructose-induced metabolic disorders. Moreover, it inhibited CD36 membrane translocation, increased CD36 expression in the mitochondria, and decreased the O-GlcNAc modification of CD36 and OGT expression in vitro and vivo. In addition, 6-Gingerol enhanced the performance of mitochondria in the skeletal muscle and boosted the respiratory capability of L6 myotubes. This study provides a theoretical basis and new insights for the development of lipid-lowering drugs in clinical practice.

A Scoping Review of the Clinical Evidence for the Health Benefits of Culinary Doses of Herbs and Spices for the Prevention and Treatment of Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a growing global health problem. Evidence suggests that diets rich in phytochemical-containing herbs and spices can contribute to reducing the risk of chronic diseases. This review assesses the scope of evidence supporting the use of herbs and spices in the diet for the prevention or treatment of MetS and its associated health conditions. A search of the PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar databases was carried out to assess the available clinical evidence for culinary doses of commonly used herbs and spices. Trials that were measuring health factors related to metabolic disorders in healthy individuals, or the health of individuals with MetS or associated diseases, were included. Out of a total of 1738 papers identified, there were 142 relevant studies on black pepper, chilli, cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, fennel, fenugreek, garlic, ginger, nigella seed, rosemary, sage and turmeric. No relevant research was found for cloves, mint, oregano, parsley or thyme. Cinnamon, fenugreek and ginger were the herbs/spices with the most published trials on them and that showed promise for glycaemic control. Cardamom appears to have potential to reduce inflammatory markers, and cinnamon, ginger and turmeric to reduce blood lipids. Patients with type 2 diabetes were the population most likely to be included in studies, but the preventative benefits of herbs/spices in healthy populations were also investigated, particularly for chilli, ginger and cinnamon. There is evidence for the beneficial effect of culinary doses of many common herbs/spices in the prevention and treatment of MetS and associated disorders.

Research progress of ginger in the treatment of gastrointestinal tumors

Cancer seriously endangers human health. Gastrointestinal cancer is the most common and major malignant tumor, and its morbidity and mortality are gradually increasing. Although there are effective treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy for gastrointestinal tumors, they are often accompanied by serious side effects. According to the traditional Chinese medicine and food homology theory, many materials are both food and medicine. Moreover, food is just as capable of preventing and treating diseases as medicine. Medicine and food homologous herbs not only have excellent pharmacological effects and activities but also have few side effects. As a typical medicinal herb with both medicinal and edible uses, some components of ginger have been shown to have good efficacy and safety against cancer. A mass of evidence has also shown that ginger has anti-tumor effects on digestive tract cancers (such as gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, laryngeal cancer, and pancreatic cancer) through a variety of pathways. The aim of this study is to investigate the mechanisms of action of the main components of ginger and their potential clinical applications in treating gastrointestinal tumors.

Suppression of Inflamm-Aging by Moringa oleifera and Zingiber officinale Roscoe in the Prevention of Degenerative Diseases: A Review of Current Evidence

Inflammation or inflamm-aging is a chronic low-grade inflammation that contributes to numerous types of degenerative diseases among the elderly and might be impeded by introducing an anti-inflammatory agent like Moringa oleifera Lam (moringa) and Zingiber officinale Roscoe (ginger). Therefore, this paper aims to review the role of moringa and ginger in suppressing inflamm-aging to prevent degenerative diseases. Various peer-reviewed publications were searched and downloaded using the reputed search engine "Pubmed" and "Google Scholar". These materials were reviewed and tabulated. A comparison between these previous findings was made based on the mechanism of action of moringa and ginger against degenerative diseases, focusing on their anti-inflammatory properties. Many studies have reported the efficacy of moringa and ginger in type 2 diabetes mellitus, neurodegenerative disease, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and kidney disease by reducing inflammatory cytokines activities, mainly of TNF-α and IL-6. They also enhanced the activity of antioxidant enzymes, including catalase, glutathione, and superoxide dismutase. The anti-inflammatory activities can be seen by inhibiting NF-κβ activity. Thus, the anti-inflammatory potential of moringa and ginger in various types of degenerative diseases due to inflamm-aging has been shown in many recent types of research.

Comparative effectiveness of six herbs in the management of glycemic status of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

There are several herbal formulations for type 2 diabetes (T2D), but many of them have never been directly compared to establish the most effective methods. Therefore, the present systematic review and network meta-analysis aimed to compare and rank the effects of herbal formulations by combining direct and indirect evidence on the management of type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

From five electronic databases, relevant studies on the effectiveness of herbal formulations for glycemic status for people with type 2 diabetes were retrieved. Only randomized controlled trials that were published in English and looked at how herbal formulations affected adults' (>18-year-old) glycemic levels were included. A systematic review and network meta-analysis design with the random-effects model was used.

RESULTS

A total of 44 trials included 3130 participants on six herbs were included in the final analysis. Apple cider vinegar (ACV) (standardized mean difference (SMD) = -28.99), cinnamon (-9.73), curcumin (-13.15), and fenugreek (-19.64) significantly reduced fasting blood glucose (FBG) compared with placebo (all p < 0.05). Notably, only ACV (SMD = -2.10) and fenugreek seeds (0.84) were found significantly effective in reducing HbA1C. ACV was most effective herb to reduce FBG comparison with other herbs.

CONCLUSIONS

Several herbs could be considered as a valuable adjuvant therapy regarding glycemic control of type 2 diabetes patients. Health professionals should be encouraged to incorporate these herbs for the management of type 2 diabetes as part of their standard care.

Effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale) intake on human serum lipid profile: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Dyslipidemia is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. Effect of ginger supplementation on lipid profile in humans remains controversial particularly in diabetic patients. A systematic search was performed covering PubMed, Medline, and Scopus, Web of Science (ISI), and Google scholar from January 2010 to January 2022. Inclusion criteria were randomized controlled clinical trials (RCT) study design, at least one of lipid profile components triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) measured before and after ginger consumption. For quantitative data synthesis, a random-effects model was applied. Pooled data showed that ginger intake reduced TC (SMD -0.44; 95% CI: -0.86, -0.02; p = 0.025) and TG (SMD -0.61; 95% CI: -1.14, -0.08; p = 0.024) levels significantly, but it has no significant effect on improving HDL-C (SMD 0.40; 95% CI: -0.01, 0.80; p = 0.057) and LDL-C (SMD -0.34; 95% CI: -0.81, 0.13; p = 0.153). Ginger supplementation decreased TG in obese and diabetic subjects more efficiently. In terms of ginger dose, the result of meta-regression found to be significant only for TC, so that increasing daily doses of ginger reduces TC levels by (β: -0.67; 95% CI: -1.28, -0.07; p = 0.028). Therefore, ginger could be considered as an effective lipid lowering nutraceuticals.

Glycemic outcomes of people with diabetes mellitus in Brazilian primary health care

Background

The capillary blood glucose monitoring program at home a challenge in primary health care. Therefore, it is fundamental to identify the glycemic control of people with diabetes mellitus through HBA1c and to analyze its associated factors.

Objective

To identify the glycemic profile of people with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) through HbA1c and analyze factors associated.

Materials & methods

Cross-sectional study developed in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. Secondary data from the electronic health record of people registered in the Primary Health Care system were used. A sample of 3181 participants was obtained. People with HbA1c < 7.0% (53 mmol/mol) were considered to have adequate glycemic control. For people aged ≥ 55 years, a less stringent target, < 8.0% (64 mmol/mol), was also considered. The odds ratio was the measure of effect analyzed with their respective 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI).

Results

Adequate glycemic control with HbA1c < 7.0% (53 mmol/mol) was found in 44.8% of people and, when using the less rigid target, HbA1c < 8.0% (64 mmol/mol) for people aged ≥ 55 years-old, 70.6% had adequate glycemic control. Age and drug therapy were associated with adequate glycemic control (p < 0.001), which was more frequent among older people and those who used only metformin.

Conclusion

The study shows that the achievement of adequate glycemic control is still a challenge, especially with regard to younger people and those who use insulin.

Effect of Zingiber officinale on Lipid Profile and Some Inflammatory Markers in Diabetic Hemodialysis Patients: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Background

Diabetes, inflammation, and abnormal lipid levels are the main risk factors for mortality in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The present study aimed to investigate the effects of ginger supplementation on inflammatory markers and lipid profile in diabetic patients with ESRD undergoing hemodialysis.

Methods

In this study, 44 patients were randomly assigned to either the ginger or the placebo group. The patients in the ginger group received 2000 mg/d ginger for eight weeks, while the control group received the placebo with the same protocol. The serum concentrations of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c), albumin, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measured after a 12- to 14-hours fast at the baseline and the end of the study, as along with the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and Glasgow prognostic score (GPS).

Results

Forty-one subjects were analyzed based on the intention-to-treat method of all included patients. Serum levels of TG (p=0.003), hs-CRP (p=0.022), and NLR (p=0.001) decreased significantly in the ginger group compared to the placebo group, while albumin concentration in serum was elevated (p=0.022). However, there were no significant differences in GPS, levels of TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, and PLR within and between the groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Ginger administration reduced NLR, hs-CRP, and TG serum levels and increased serum albumin levels in included patients. Thus, ginger can be considered an effective complementary treatment for these patients. This trail is registered with IRCT20191109045382N3.

Treatment on Nature’s lap: Use of herbal products in the management of hyperglycemia

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is characterized by persistently elevated blood glucose concentration that lead to multisystem complications. There are about 400 medicinal plants cited to have a beneficial effect on DM. We must choose products wisely based on data derived from scientific studies. However, a major obstacle in the amalgamation of herbal medicine in modern medical practices is the lack of clinical data on its safety, efficacy and drug interaction. Trials of these herbal products often underreport the side effects and other crucial intervention steps deviating from the standards set by Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials. Due to a lack of knowledge of the active compounds present in most herbal medicines, product standardization is difficult. Cost-effectiveness is another issue that needs to be kept in mind. In this mini-review, we focus on the anti-hyperglycemic effect of herbal products that are commonly used, along with the concerns stated above.

Oral Administration Evaluation of the Hydro-Ethanolic Extract of Ginger (Rhizome of Zingiber officinale) against Postoperative-Induced Peritoneal Adhesion: Investigating the Role of Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidative Effects

Peritoneal adhesions (PAs) occur and develop after abdominal surgery. Abdominal adhesions are common and often develop after abdominal surgery. Currently, there are no effective targeted pharmacotherapies for treating adhesive disease. In this regard, ginger is wildly used in traditional medicine because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and has been investigated for peritoneal adhesion treatment. This study analyzed ginger ethanolic extraction via HPLC to have a 6-gingerol concentration. Four groups induced peritoneal adhesion to evaluate ginger's effects on peritoneal adhesion. Then, ginger extract (50, 150, and 450 mg/kg) was administered by gavage in various groups of male Wistar rats (220 ± 20 g, 6-8 weeks). After scarifying the animals for biological assessment, macroscopic and microscopic parameters were determined via scoring systems and immunoassays in the peritoneal lavage fluid. Next, the adhesion scores and interleukin IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-(TNF-) α, transforming growth factor-(TGF-) β1, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were elevated in the control group. The results showed that ginger extract (450 mg/kg) notably decreased inflammatory (IL-6 and TNF-α), fibrosis (TGF-β1), anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10), angiogenesis (VEGF), and oxidative (MDA) factors, while increased antioxidant factor glutathione (GSH), compared to the control group. These findings suggest that a hydro-alcoholic extract of ginger is a potentially novel therapeutic strategy for inhibiting adhesion formation. Also, it might be considered a beneficial anti-inflammatory or antifibrosis herbal medicine in clinical trials. However, further clinical studies are required to approve the effectiveness of ginger.

Anxiety and Metabolic Disorders: The Role of Botanicals

Anxiety and anxiety-related disorders are becoming more evident every day, affecting an increasing number of people around the world. Metabolic disorders are often associated with anxiety. Furthermore, anxiety branches into metabolic disorders by playing multiple roles as a cofactor, symptom, and comorbidity. Taken together, these considerations open the possibility of integrating the therapy of metabolic disorders with specific drugs for anxiety control. However, anxiolytic compounds often cause disabling effects in patients. The main goal could be to combine therapeutic protocols with compounds capable of reducing side effects while performing multiple beneficial effects. In this article we propose a group of bioactive ingredients called botanicals as a healthy supplement for the treatment of metabolic disorders related to anxiety.

Effectiveness and Safety of Ayurvedic Medicines in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Management: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction: Many Ayurvedic medicines have the potential for managing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), with previous systematic reviews demonstrating effectiveness and safety for specific Ayurvedic medicines. However, many of the reviews need updating and none provide a comprehensive summary of all the Ayurvedic medicines evaluated for managing T2DM.

Objective: The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate and synthesize evidence on the effectiveness and safety of Ayurvedic medicines for managing T2DM.

Inclusion criteria: Published and unpublished RCTs assessing the effectiveness and safety of Ayurvedic medicines for managing T2DM in adults.

Methods: The JBI systematic review methodology was followed. A comprehensive search of sources (including 18 electronic databases) from inception to 16 January 2021 was made. No language restrictions were applied. Data synthesis was conducted using narrative synthesis and random effects meta-analyses, where appropriate. Pooled results are reported as mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results: Out of 32,519 records identified from the searches, 219 articles were included in the systematic review representing 199 RCTs (21,191 participants) of 98 Ayurvedic medicines. Overall, in the studies reviewed the methodology was not adequately reported, resulting in poorer methodological quality scoring. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was reduced using Aegle marmelos (L.) Corrêa (MD -1.6%; 95% CI −3 to −0.3), Boswellia serrata Roxb. (−0.5; −0.7 to −0.4), Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino (−1; −1.5 to −0.6), Momordica charantia L. (−0.3; −0.4 to −0.1), Nigella sativa L. (−0.4; −0.6 to −0.1), Plantago ovata Forssk. (−0.9; −1.4 to −0.3), Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Hook.f. and Thomson (−0.5; −0.6 to −0.5), Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (−0.6; −0.9 to −0.4), and Urtica dioica L. (−1.3; −2.4 to −0.2) compared to control. Similarly, fasting blood glucose (FBG) was reduced by 4–56 mg/dl for a range of Ayurvedic medicines. Very few studies assessed health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Adverse events were not reported in many studies, and if reported, these were mostly none to mild and predominately related to the gastrointestinal tract.

Conclusion: The current evidence suggests the benefit of a range of Ayurvedic medicines in improving glycemic control in T2DM patients. Given the limitations of the available evidence and to strengthen the evidence base, high-quality RCTs should be conducted and reported.

Nutritional benefits of ginger for patients with non-communicable diseases

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a famous dietary spice rich in bioactive components like gingerols, and it has been used for a long time as food and medicine. Indeed, clinical studies have confirmed the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of ginger. Thus, ginger seems to be an excellent complementary nutritional strategy for non-communicable diseases (NCD) such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease. This narrative review aims to discuss the possible effects of ginger on the mitigation of common complications such as inflammation, oxidative stress, and gut dysbiosis in NCD.

The effect of ginger supplementation on metabolic profiles in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

There is some evidence regarding the positive effects of ginger supplementation on metabolic profile in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). However, they are conflicting. The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize earlier findings for the effect of ginger supplementation on metabolic profile in patients with T2DM.

METHODS

Scopus, PubMed and Google Scholar databases were systematically searched up until September 2021 to collect all randomized clinical trials that evaluated the effect of ginger supplementation on FBS, HbA1c, TC, TG, LDL, HDL, SBP and DBP in patients with T2DM. We conducted our study according to the 2020 PRISMA guidelines. We included only English language publications. Pooled effect sizes were measured using a random-effects model and were reported as the weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% CI. In addition, the Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias tool was used to evaluate quality of the trials.

RESULTS

In overall, 10 articles were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Our pooled meta-analysis indicated a significant reduction in FBS following ginger supplementation by polling 8 effect sizes [weighted mean difference (WMD): - 18.81; 95% CI: - 28.70, - 8.92), I2 = 77.4%] and in HbA1C through 7 effect sizes (WMD: -0.57; 95% CI: -0.93, -0.20, I2 =88.6%). Pooling 5 effect sizes, we found a significant reduction in SBP (WMD: -4.20; 95% CI: -7.64, -0.77, I2 =97%) and DBP [WMD: - 1.61; 95% CI: - 3.04, - 0.18), I2 = 93.2%] after supplementation with ginger. However, our pooled meta-analysis indicated that ginger supplementation had no significant influence on lipid profile involving TG, TC, LDL and HDL.

CONCLUSIONS

We found significant reductions in FBS, HbA1C, SBP and DBP after supplementation with ginger in patients with T2DM compared to control group, with no significant changes in serum lipids. Further large RCTs are required to shed light on this issue.

Effects of medical plants from Zingiberaceae family on cardiovascular risk factors of type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

We performed a meta-analysis on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the efficacy of Zingiberaceae on cardiovascular risk factors in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and Scopus were searched systematically until October 18, 2021. Thirty-four RCTs with 2154 patients met our inclusion. Pooled analysis indicated that Zingiberaceae can significantly improve body weight (BW) (WMD = -1.012, 95% CI: -1.673, -0.351, p = .003), fasting blood glucose (FBG) (WMD = -14.292, 95% CI: -18.588, -9.995, p < .001), glycosylated hemoglobin 1c (HbA1c) (WMD = -0.432, 95% CI: -0.607, -0.257, p < .001), serum insulin (WMD = -2.036, 95% CI: -2.857, -1.216, p < .001), homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (WMD = -0.886, 95% CI: -1.375, -0.398, p < .001), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) (WMD = 0.850, 95% CI: 0.018, 1.682, p = .045), triglyceride (TG) (WMD = -17.636, 95% CI: -27.121, -8.151, p < .001), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (WMD = -0.642, 95% CI: -1.148, -0.137, p = .013), C-reactive protein (CRP) (WMD = -0.623, 95% CI: -1.061, -0.186, p = .005), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (WMD = -3.020, 95% CI: -4.327, -1.712, p < .001), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) (WMD = -1.147, 95% CI: -1.887, -0.406, p = .002). The supplementation of Zingiberaceae may be an effective adjunctive therapy in management of T2DM and prevention cardiovascular complications by decreasing BW, improving blood glucose control, insulin resistance, lipid profiles (HDL-C and TG), blood pressure (DBP), and reducing inflammation (CRP, TNF-α, and IL-6). PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Approximately half of the deaths of individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM) are attributable to cardiovascular disease (CVD), and individuals with T2DM have a two-fold increased risk of cardiovascular mortality than healthy individuals. Currently, T2DM is mainly treated with hypoglycemic medication such as sulfonylureas, thiazolidinediones, meglitinides, and biguanides. Nevertheless, most of them with long-term usage could cause side effects, including hypoglycemia and gastrointestinal troubles. Several species of the Zingiberaceae family are used in traditional herbal medicines, which have been widely used in traditional and complementary medicine. Proving the potential benefits of Zingiberaceae on T2DM and its cardiovascular complications has positive clinical implications for the use of this practical herb.

Endothelial Function and Postprandial Glucose Control in Response to Test-Meals Containing Herbs and Spices in Adults With Overweight/Obesity

Objectives

Herbs and Spices (H/S) contain bioactive compounds with purported health benefits. This study investigated the effect of H/S intake on indicators of vascular and metabolic health over 24 h using a test-meal challenge paradigm in adults with overweight or obesity.

Methods

In a randomized, single-blinded, 4-arm, 24 h, multi-sampling, crossover clinical trial, adults (n = 25) aged 36.6 ± 3.1 years with BMI 28.5 ± 0.6 kg/m² (mean ± SEM) consumed a high-fat, high-carbohydrate challenge meal (~810 kcal) with salt/pepper only (control) or control with one of three different H/S combinations: Italian herb (rosemary, basil, thyme, oregano, and parsley), cinnamon, or pumpkin pie spice mix (cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice) on four separate visits at least 3 days apart. Meals provided 35% of subjects' energy to maintain weight and ~1 g H/S per 135 kcal of the meal. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and blood samples were collected at 0, 1, 2, 4, 5.5, 7, and 24 h for endpoint analysis (additional blood draw at 0.5 h for insulin/glucose). Mixed-model analysis of repeated measures via PROC MIXED PC-SAS 9.4 was performed on the primary outcome (FMD) and secondary outcome variables. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03926442).

Results

Italian herb and pumpkin spice meals significantly increased %FMD at 24 h compared to the control meal (P = 0.048 and P = 0.027, respectively). The cinnamon meal reduced postprandial glycemia (Δ) compared to control (P = 0.01), and pumpkin pie spice mix and cinnamon meals reduced postprandial insulin at 0.5 h compared to the control meal (P = 0.01 and P = 0.04, respectively). IL-6 and triglycerides increased in response to all meals (Time, P < 0.0001) but were not significantly different between meals.

Conclusions

The test-meal challenge study design coupled with multiple sampling over 24 h provides insights into time-course bioactivity of H/S on vascular function and metabolic indices in overweight/obese adults.

Clinical Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT03926442.

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.

The Effect of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) on Improving Blood Lipids and Body Weight; A Systematic Review and Multivariate Meta-analysis of Clinical Trials

BACKGROUND

Beneficial effects of ginger consumption on metabolic biomarkers has been reported previously. The current research aimed to investigate the effects of ginger supplementation on lipid profile and body weight using a meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials.

METHODS

Online databases PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Science Direct were searched until December 2021 to identify eligible articles. Twenty-six trials were included.

RESULTS

The results showed that ginger consumption could significantly improve lipid profile including total triglyceride (-12.54 (-20.01 to -5.08)), cholesterol (-6.53 (-10.76 to -2.31)), LDL (-5.14 (-8.79 to -1.50)), and HDL (1.13 (0.35 to 1.91)). Moreover, ginger supplementation could significantly decrease body mass index (BMI) (-0.49 (-0.79 to -0.18)). However, the small number of sample studies that investigated reductions in body weight (-0.52 (-1.48 to 0.43)) were not statistically significant. Sub-group analysis of treatment dose and duration showed that in most of the analyzed lipid profiles, both ≤1500 and >1500 mg/d for both of ≤8 and >8 weeks could be effective; however, in the case of weight control dose of >1500 mg/d for more than 8 weeks was more effective. Besides, the results of multivariate meta-analysis revealed the effect of the intervention on all lipid profiles simultaneously.

CONCLUSION

The present meta-analysis and review revealed that ginger supplementation can improve lipid profile and body weight if used at the appropriate dose and duration. More studies are needed to fully evaluate the effect of ginger supplements' different doses and duration on lipid profile and BMI.

Medicinal chemistry inspired by ginger: exploring the chemical space around 6-gingerol

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) has been used as a spice and as a traditional remedy since ancient times, especially in traditional Chinese medicine. It has been applied as a treatment for many diseases either alone or in combination with other remedies. Many studies were conducted on ginger and its constituents and a wide array of bioactivities were reported, e.g., antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiemetic, and anticancer activity. Most of these had been correlated to gingerols and shogaols, the most abundant secondary metabolites in ginger. This inspired several research groups to explore the biomedical value of the chemical space around these compounds, and many of their synthetic or semi-synthetic analogues have been prepared and studied for various bioactivities. Thanks to this, many valuable structure activity relationships have been revealed for such compounds. Herein, we provide a brief summary on the synthetic derivatization efforts that had so far been implemented on 6-gingerol, the main constituent of fresh ginger. This review covers 160 natural, semisynthetic, or synthetic 6-gingerol derivatives and their reported bioactivities.

Structure and reported bioactivities of semi-synthetic and synthetic 6-gingerol derivatives.

p53 Rather Than β-Catenin Mediated the Combined Hypoglycemic Effect of Cinnamomum cassia (L.) and Zingiber officinale Roscoe in the Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Model

Background: The antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and insulin-enhancing effects of ginger and cinnamon were previously confirmed in experimental and human studies, while the combined effect of ginger and cinnamon was not thoroughly investigated until now.

Objectives: This study was designed to assess the antidiabetic effect of combined administration of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) and cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia L.) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats compared to metformin and to explain the mechanism behind this effect.

Materials and methods: STZ was utilized to induce diabetes mellitus in male Sprague–Dawley rats. Assessments of fasting blood glucose level (BGL), the total antioxidant capacity (TAC), serum insulin, HOMA-IR, and HOMA–β cells were performed. Pancreatic gene expression of β-catenin and p53 was assessed using RT-PCR. Assessment of histopathological alterations of pancreatic islet cells was performed using routine and immunohistochemical techniques.

Results: BGL significantly decreased (p = 0.01), while serum insulin and TAC significantly increased (p < 0.001) in both metformin- and ginger plus cinnamon–treated groups compared to the untreated diabetic group. HOMA–β cell index significantly increased (p = 0.001) in ginger plus cinnamon, indicating their enhancing effect on insulin secretion in diabetic conditions. p53 gene expression was significantly upregulated (p < 0.001), while β-catenin was insignificantly downregulated (p = 0.32) in ginger plus cinnamon–treated groups. Insulin immunoexpression in β cells significantly increased (p = 0.001, p = 0.004) in metformin- and ginger plus cinnamon–treated groups, respectively.

Conclusions: The combined administration of ginger and cinnamon has a significant hypoglycemic and antioxidant effect in STZ-induced diabetes mostly through enhancing repair of islet cells mediated via upregulation of pancreatic p53 expression. Therefore, testing this effect in diabetic patients is recommended.