The Benefits of Red Ginger as Anti-hypertension and Anti-hyperlipidemia

Red ginger

Red ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe var rubrum) has been widely used as a traditional medicine in many countries, especially in Indonesia. 

The traditional use of red ginger is in accordance with its pharmacological activity and chemical content. Many studies have shown that red ginger has pharmacological activity as an immunomodulator, antihypertensive, antihyperlipidemic, tonic, acetylcholine esterase inhibitor, anti-hyperuricemia, antimicrobial agent, and cytotoxic agent.

Several studies have also shown that some of the pharmacological activities of red ginger are superior to those of elephant ginger.

In its place of origin, Southeast Asia, red ginger has long been used in traditional medicine. For example, red ginger has been widely used by many tribes in Indonesia (such as the Tolitoli, Javanese, Banjar, Madurese, Batak, Dayak, Bugis and Sundanese) and believed to treat nausea, vomiting, impotence, colds, flatulence, coughs, and so on.

Red ginger as immunomodulator

Red ginger is a superior ginger variety in terms of shogaol and gingerol content and its pharmacological activity. For example, the contents of 6-gingerol and 6-shogaol have been shown to have superior antihyperlipidemic effects without side effects due to inhibition of prostaglandins.

Red ginger also shows promising results as an immunomodulator. Immunomodulatory activity shows that red ginger extract affects the activity of T lymphocytes (T lymphocytes are a group of white blood cells that play a major role in cellular immunity) and cytokines (Cytokines are chemical compounds that are a means of communication between related cells in the immune system) secreted. The extract also exhibits higher ACE inhibitory activity (ACE inhibitors are useful for lowering blood pressure in hypertensive patients) compared to elephant ginger.

Red ginger as an anti-inflammatory agent

Many studies have confirmed that chronic inflammation is the main cause of many diseases such as allergies, atherosclerosis, cancer, diabetes, infections, obesity and neurodegeneration.

Red ginger inhibits the synthesis of inflammatory mediators (prostaglandins, cytokines, chemokines, and leukotrienes) by inhibiting the expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1, COX-2, and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) enzymes.

Red ginger as analgesics (pain reliever)

Red ginger analgesic activity can be compared with aspirin. Neuropathic (nerve) pain is caused by nerve damage, dysfunction, or injury. It affects the patient's quality of life because of its chronicity and intensity. Traditional medicine containing red ginger is widely used to treat neuropathic pain.

Source:

1.  Nulfitriani, Pitopang, R., Yuniati, E. Pemanfaatan tumbuhan sebagai obat tradisional pada Suku Toli toli di Desa Pinjan Sulawesi Tengah. Biocelebes. 2013;7:1-8

2.  Kuntorini, E. M., Botani ekonomi suku zingiberaceae sebagai obat tradisional oleh masyarakat di Kota Madya Banjarbaru. J Bioscience. 2005;2: 25-36.

3.  Suciyati, S. W., Adnyana, I K. Red ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe var rubrum): a review. School of Pharmacy, Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Jalan Ganeca 10, Bandung 40132, Indonesia.