Preprint Review Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Plants of the Genus Zingiber as Source of Antimicrobial Agents: from Tradition to Pharmacy

Version 1 : Received: 15 November 2017 / Approved: 16 November 2017 / Online: 16 November 2017 (04:38:52 CET)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Sharifi-Rad, M.; Varoni, E.M.; Salehi, B.; Sharifi-Rad, J.; Matthews, K.R.; Ayatollahi, S.A.; Kobarfard, F.; Ibrahim, S.A.; Mnayer, D.; Zakaria, Z.A.; Sharifi-Rad, M.; Yousaf, Z.; Iriti, M.; Basile, A.; Rigano, D. Plants of the Genus Zingiber as a Source of Bioactive Phytochemicals: From Tradition to Pharmacy. Molecules 2017, 22, 2145. Sharifi-Rad, M.; Varoni, E.M.; Salehi, B.; Sharifi-Rad, J.; Matthews, K.R.; Ayatollahi, S.A.; Kobarfard, F.; Ibrahim, S.A.; Mnayer, D.; Zakaria, Z.A.; Sharifi-Rad, M.; Yousaf, Z.; Iriti, M.; Basile, A.; Rigano, D. Plants of the Genus Zingiber as a Source of Bioactive Phytochemicals: From Tradition to Pharmacy. Molecules 2017, 22, 2145.

Abstract

Plants of the genus Zingiber (Family Zingiberaceae) are widely used throughout the world as food and medicinal plants. They represent very popular herbal remedies in various traditional healing systems; in particular, rhizome of Zingiber spp. plants has a long history of ethnobotanical uses because of a plethora of curative properties. Antimicrobial activity of rhizome essential oil has been extensively confirmed in vitro and attributed to its chemical components, mainly consisting in monoterpene and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons such as α-zingiberene, ar-curcumene, β-bisabolene and β-sesquiphellandrene. In addition, gingerols have been identified as the major active components in the fresh rhizome, whereas shogaols, dehydrated gingerol derivatives, are the predominant pungent constituents in dried rhizome. Zingiber spp. may thus represent a promising and innovative source of natural alternatives to chemical food preservatives. This approach would meet the increasing concern of consumers aware of the potential health risks associated with the conventional antimicrobial agents in food. This narrative review aims providing a literature overview on Zingiber spp. plants, their cultivation, traditional uses, phytochemical constituents and biological activities.

Keywords

Zingiber; ginger; essential oil; rhizome; herbal remedies; traditional healing systems; food preservatives

Subject

Biology and Life Sciences, Plant Sciences

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