Zingiber Officinale Root Extract is a highly concentrated extract of Ginger root that can temporarily increase peripheral blood flow. The extract’s circulatory action has been documented in an in vivo study and is the result of standardizing it with specific plant actives known for their vasodilatory activity.
In the study, skin sites treated with a preparation containing Zingiber Officinale Root Extract experienced an increase in dermal blood flow 4 times that of the control. Sixty percent of the subjects reported a warming, tingling sensation at the test site and a cooling effect on evaporation.
Several studies showed that the active principles in Zingiber officinale root extract are responsible for its anti-inflammatory activity. Ginger is a potent inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis, even stronger than indomethacin. In vitro studies have demonstrated that the Zingiber Officinale Root Extract inhibits the enzymatic activity of cyclooxygenase and lipooxygenase in the arachidonic acid pathway, therefore decreasing the production of prostaglandins and leucotrienes.
Gingerols and their analogs from Zingiber Officinale Root Extract are considered natural antioxidants. They annulate the activity of free radicals, which turn into more simple and harmless compounds. Moreover, this natural extract protects against lipidic peroxidation and oxidative stress.Zingiber Officinale Root Extract is recommended for deep heating rubs, massage creams, cellulite treatment products, muscle relaxers, skin toners/astringents, hair tonics, and bath products. It is used alone or in high-end botanical complexes like SymRelief 100 Recovery.
Antibacterial Activity
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract exhibits potent antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and -negative bacteria. It has inhibitory effects on the growth of microbial flora, although weaker than that of the controls (gentamycin, tetracyclin) (Mascolo N et al. 1989). Wendell, in 1998, confirmed these results, recommending its extensive use in treatments of parasitic infection.
Collagenase Enzymatic Inhibition
Collagen is the main structural protein of the skin, constituting about 90% of proteins in the dermis. Skin aging is linked to deep functional alterations of these protein fibers. Collagenase is an enzyme abundantly located in the skin. Its main function is to catalyze collagen degradation. Collagenase inhibition will, therefore, allow maintaining protein levels and skinning flexibility.
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract exhibits potent collagenase inhibitory activity and, therefore, can totally inhibit collagen degradation, which results in beneficial effects for the skin, such as maintenance of elasticity.
Activity on the immune system
Based on the traditional use of Ginger as an immune system stimulator, scientists evaluated the effects of Ginger extract on mononuclear blood cells by measuring the cytokines levels to understand the Ginger’s action mechanism. The results showed an increment in cytokine secretion using low ginger extract concentrations.Additionally, the stimulatory effect occurs mainly for 18-24 hours. Therefore, it was deduced that ginger extract could stimulate mononuclear blood cells, yielding by-products such as messager RNA, which would increase the cytokines in the long term.
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