Biochemical Studies on Ginger in Egypt and Nigeria

Antioxidants are substances that may prevent potentially disease-producing cell damage that can result from natural bodily processes and from exposure to certain chemicals.There are a number of different antioxidants found in foods and available as dietary supplements. Ginger considered from the most popular spices cultivated in large area all over the World plants. Ginger is used as food seasoner and flavoring material in the food, beverage, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. Recently, a broad range of biological activities have been attributed to Ginger.The present work was carried out to evaluate ginger rhizome (Zingiber officinale) volatile oil and its extracts. This work included the proximate analysis of ginger rhizome, physicochemical properties of ginger essential oil, chemical analysis of essential oil by GC-Mass, the effect of ginger essential oil and its extracts on mitocondria lipid peroxidation and free radical scavenging, study antimicrobial effect of essential oil of ginger and its extracts. Also, to study the anti-inflammatory activity of essential oil of ginger and its extracts in acute and chronic inflammation.