Common Disease and Inflammation - Anti Inflammatory Herbs - Ginger

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Ginger - An herbal medicinal with broad anti-inflammatory actions

Journal of Medicinal Food Sept 2005

The anti-inflammatory properties of ginger have been known and valued for centuries. During the past 25 years, many laboratories have provided scientific support for the long-held belief that ginger contains constituents with anti inflammatory properties. The original discovery of ginger's inhibitory effects on prostaglandin biosynthesis in the early 1970s has been repeatedly confirmed. This discovery identified ginger as an herbal medicinal product that shares pharmacological properties with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Ginger suppresses prostaglandin synthesis through inhibition of cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2. An important extension of this early work was the observation that ginger also suppresses leukotriene biosynthesis by inhibiting 5-lipoxygenase. This pharmacological property distinguishes ginger from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. This discovery preceded the observation that dual inhibitors of cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase may have a better therapeutic profile and have fewer side effects than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The characterization of the pharmacological properties of ginger entered a new phase with the discovery that a ginger extract (EV.EXT.77) derived from Zingiber officinale (family Zingiberaceae) and Alpina galanga (family Zingiberaceae) inhibits the induction of several genes involved in the inflammatory response. These include genes encoding cytokines, chemokines, and the inducible enzyme cyclooxygenase-2. This discovery provided the first evidence that ginger modulates biochemical pathways activated in chronic inflammation. Identification of the molecular targets of individual ginger constituents provides an opportunity to optimize and standardize ginger products with respect to their effects on specific biomarkers of inflammation. Such preparations will be useful for studies in experimental animals and humans.

[6]-Gingerol, a pungent ingredient of ginger, inhibits angiogenesis (cancer) in vitro and in vivo.

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2005 Sep Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

[6]-Gingerol, a pungent ingredient of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Zingiberaceae), has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor-promoting activities. Here, we describe its novel anti-angiogenic activity in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, [6]-gingerol inhibited both the VEGF- and bFGF-induced proliferation of human endothelial cells and caused cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase. It also blocked capillary-like tube formation by endothelial cells in response to VEGF, and strongly inhibited sprouting of endothelial cells in the rat aorta and formation of new blood vessel in the mouse cornea in response to VEGF. Moreover, i.p. administration, without reaching tumor cytotoxic blood levels, to mice receiving i.v. injection of B16F10 melanoma cells, reduced the number of lung metastasis, with preservation of apparently healthy behavior. Taken together, these results demonstrate that [6]-gingerol inhibits angiogenesis and may be useful in the treatment of tumors and other angiogenesis-dependent diseases.

Morning stiffness and the Anti-Inflammation Diet

Your morning stiffness may not yet qualify as arthritis, but it's likely a sign of inflammation simmering throughout your body. Continue

Arthritis Remedies - Science Based Supplement Information

Arthritis Herbal Remedies - Science Based Herb Information

Boswellia in combination with Ashwagandha , Turmeric and Zinc

Cats Claw

Cayenne - topical, for pain only

Ginger Anti-Inflamitory pain relief

Coming soon: Learn how the herbs Ginger and Galanga provide safe and effective arthritis pain relief.

Ginger Root Extract (Zingiber officinale) standardized

Contains 20% standardized compounds calculated as 6-gingerol and 6-shogaol.

Enzymatic Therapy Gingerall - 100 mg - 90 Softgels

Standardized Curcumin (Turmeric)

Curcumin, the active constituent of the spice turmeric, is an antioxidant that may possess benefits for degenerative diseases. Curcumin has also shown a wide range of health-boosting properties, including support for inflammation relief and circulation.

NSI’s standardized turmeric is a technically advanced herbal extract standardized to 95% curcuminoids, the highest concentration available.

In several studies, curcumin has shown increasing potential as an anti-cancer agent. Curcumin has previously displayed success in protecting against the development of colonic tumors in laboratory animals treated with colon cancer-inducing agents. In a study published in the Journal of Carcinogenesis, curcumin appeared to induce cellular arrest when added to human colon cancer cells. Other studies show that curcumin's anti-cancer effects appear to be due to its ability to induce apoptosis, a predetermined death of cells, as well as to arrest the cell cycle. Other published studies show that curcumin effectively inhibits cancer cell growth in human skin cancer, lung cancer, and prostate cancer cells. Large randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies need to be conducted in humans to prove benefits in cancer patients.

Curcumin may hold anti-inflammatory properties, as studies have shown that it may benefit joint function, while reducing inflammation and pain. Curcumin has been shown to reduce inflammation by lowering histamine levels, while possibly increasing the production of natural cortisone by the adrenal glands. This antioxidant has been used in rheumatoid arthritis trials, and was shown to display some benefits for reducing inflammation and symptoms such as pain and stiffness. And in a study published in the International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutic Toxicology, curcumin was proven effective at easting post-surgical inflammation.

In studies, curcumin has displayed other health benefits. It has been shown to aid circulation, as it may reduce platelets from clumping together, and may defend against atherosclerosis.

Curcumin is also effective at shielding the liver from various toxic compounds. And one recent study showed that curcumin may have some benefit for cystic fibrosis.

Bioperine®, derived from black pepper, is included to dramatically enhance absorption.

NSI Turmeric (Standardized 95% Curcumin) - 900 mg - 60 Caps

Ginger extract components suppress induction of chemokine expression in human tissue samples

By the Journal of Alternative Complement Medicine. 2005, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Division of Arthritis Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.

INTRODUCTION: Ginger has a long history of medicinal use, particularly as an anti-inflammatory agent for a wide variety of diseases such as arthritis. Suppression of inflammation in arthritis is attributed to suppression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines produced by synoviocytes, chondrocytes, and leukocytes. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to elucidate the effect of a combination ginger extract and its individual components on chemokine expression in human synoviocytes. METHODS: Human synoviocytes were incubated with 100 microg/mL combination ginger extract (GE) of Alpinia galanga (AG) and Zingiber officinale (ZO); AG extract alone; ZO extract alone; or control media, for 1 hour at 37 degrees C, 5% CO2. Cells were next activated with 1 ng/mL of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) for 1 hour to determine macrophage chemotactic factor (MCP-1) and interferon-gamma activated protein (IP-10) mRNA levels using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Secreted MCP-1 and IP-10 were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) following a 24 hour incubation period. RESULTS: The GE combination was consistently more effective in decreasing chemokine mRNA and chemokine secreted protein levels than its individual components ZO or AG. In comparison, ZO was more effective than AG in suppressing chemokine expression. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates that GE inhibits chemokine expression, and that the combination of ZO and AG components acts synergistically. This ginger formulation may be useful for suppressing inflammation due to arthritis.

Curcumin, the active constituent of the curry spice, turmeric, inhibits Alzheimers

"Curcumin (also known as Turmeric) has been used for thousands of years as a safe anti-inflammatory in a variety of ailments as part of Indian traditional medicine," Cole said. Recent animal studies "support a growing interest in its possible use for diseases of aging involving oxidative damage and inflammation like Alzheimer's, cancer and heart disease." Continue

Gamma linolenic acid suppresses inflammation

Gamma Linolenic acid acts as a competitive inhibitor of prostaglandin E2 and leukotrienes (LTs) by reducing the auto-induction of interleukin1alpha (IL-1alpha)-induced pro-IL-1beta gene expression. It appears to be efficacious in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2005 Jun;34(6):773-84.

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