Recent Update on Multiple Pharmacological Benefits of Zingerone: A Quick Review

Anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-cancerous, radioprotective and anti-microbial properties of ginger (Zingiber officinale) rhizome are well recognized worldwide. Ginger consumption also helps in the management of inflammatory damage in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Biological properties of ginger rhizome are attributed to its active compounds including, gingerols, shogaols, paradols and zingerone. Zingerone is active component of dried ginger rhizome and used in food industry as flavouring agent. Various observations on the protective role of zingerone against radiation induced oxidative stress; tissue inflammatory damage and drug induced toxicity have been made using a wide range of experimental models. Mechanism of antioxidant and antiinflammatory action of zingerone has been linked to potent radical scavenging effect, causing alteration in gene/protein expression and interference with intracellular cell signalling pathways of inflammation. Our laboratory for the first time revealed antibiofilm activity of zingerone against opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This study suggested that zingerone can be explored as a safe anti-infective agent against P. aeruginosa biofilm associated infections. Hence, comprehensive information showing health benefits of zingerone are urgently needed that may provide an update on its therapeutic potential. We conducted a detailed search of literature to summarize the proven health benefits and biological properties of zingerone. This review article summarizes in detail the in vitro and in vivo pharmacological benefits of zingerone.

Author(s): Lokender Kumar, Kusum Harjai and Sanjay Chhibber

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