Ginger: A gut health superfood?

A study published in the Journal of Food Science suggests that ginger extract may be developed as a functional food for the maintenance of gastrointestinal health. Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) rhizome is known for its beneficial effects in the management of gastrointestinal (GI) disturbances. While it has been hypothesized that the beneficial effects of ginger on the GI tract are due to the powerful compounds it contains, there is insufficient information regarding the precise mechanisms of action.

The researchers prepared and investigated the effects of an ethanolic extract of ginger (GEE), which contains 6-gingerol and 6-shogaol, on Caco-2 cells. The human colonic epithelial cell line Caco-2 has been widely used as a model of the intestinal barrier. The cells were pretreated with GEE, 6-gingerol, or 6-shogaol and exposed to a mixture of the following inflammatory mediators: interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon gamma (IFN)-γ, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Then, the researchers evaluated the various anti-inflammatory parameters and investigated the protective effects of ginger and its major constituents on gut barrier integrity.

The researchers found that GEE and its constituents, such as 6-gingerol and 6-shogaol, might improve inflammatory responses by decreasing the inflammatory cytokine levels via nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) inhibition in Caco-2 cell line. In addition, GEE, 6-gingerol, and 6-shogaol significantly decreased inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and COX-2 mRNA expression levels, whereas they increased the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER). The researchers noted that “detailed experiments using other normal intestinal cell lines, animal models of colitis, as well as human clinical trials should be performed to develop GEE as a functional ingredient beneficial for gut health.”

Abstract