Ginger and its extracts have been used traditionally as anti-inflammatory remedies, with a particular
Focus on the medicinal properties of its phenolic secondary metabolites, the gingerols. Consistent with
These uses, potent anti arthritic effects of gingerol-containing extracts were previously demonstrated by
our laboratory using an experimental model of rheumatoid arthritis, streptococcal cell wall (SCW)-
induced arthritis. In this study,anti inflammatory effects of ginger’s other secondary metabolites, the
essential oils (GEO), which contain terpenes with reported phytoestrogenic activity, were assessed in
female Lewis rats with SCW-induced arthritis. GEO (28mg/kg/d ip) prevented chronic joint
inflammation, but altered neither the initial acute phase of joint swelling nor granuloma formation
at sites of SCW deposition in liver. Pharmacologic doses of 17-bestradiol (200 or 600 mg/kg/dsc) elicited
the same pattern of anti inflammatory activity, suggesting that GEO could be acting as a phytoestrogen.
However, contrary to this hypothesis, GEO had no in vivo effect on classic estrogen target organs, such as
Uterus or bone. En toto,these results suggest that ginger’s anti inflammatory properties are not limited to
the frequently studied phenolics, but may be attributable tothe combined effects of both secondary
metabolites, the pungent-tasting gingerols and as well as its aromatic essential oils.