Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory and Antinociceptive Activities of Essential Oil from Ginger.

ABSTRACT

Chemical compositions of ginger oil as well as its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive potential were evaluated in the present study. The main constituents as detected by GC/MS analysis was V-zingiberene which constituted 31% of the total area, ar-curcumene (15.4%) and a -sesquiphellandrene (14.02%). Ginger oil scavenged superoxide, DPPH, hydroxyl radicals and inhibited tissue lipid peroxidation in vitro . Intraperitoneal administration of ginger oil was found to inhibit phorbol- 12-myristate-13-acetate induced superoxide radicals elicited by macrophages. Oral administration of ginger oil for one month, significantly increased superoxide dismutase, glutathione and glutathione reductase enzymes level (P<0.001) in blood of mice and glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase enzymes in liver. Ginger oil produced significant reduction in acute inflammation produced by carrageenan and dextran and formalin induced chronic inflammation (P<0.001). It also exhibited significant reduction in acetic acid induced writhing movements (P<0.001). The present report revealed that ginger oil possesses antioxidant activity as well as significant anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive property.