Zingiber officinale and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Evidence from Experimental Studies

Abstract

Zingiber officinale is being used as diet-based therapy because of its wide therapeutic potential in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and against diabetic complications by directly interacting with different molecular and cellular pathways that provoke the pathogenesis of T2DM. This article explores the overall beneficial effects of Z. officinale on T2DM and its associated complications. Along with elucidating the beneficial facts of Z. officinale, this article may also aid in understanding the molecular basis of its effects in T2DM. The mechanistic rationale for antidiabetic effects of Z. officinale includes the inhibition of several transcriptional pathways, lipid peroxidation, carbohydrate-metabolizing enzymes, and HMG-CoA reductase and the activation of antioxidant enzyme capacity and low-density lipoprotein receptors. Consequently, by targeting these pathways, Z. officinale shows its antidiabetic therapeutic effects by increasing insulin sensitivity/synthesis, protecting β-cells of pancreatic islets, reducing fat accumulation, decreasing oxidative stress, and increasing glucose uptake by the tissues. In addition to these effects, Z. officinale also exhibits protective effects against several diabetes-linked complications, notably nephropathy and diabetic cataract, by acting as an antioxidant and antiglycating agent. In conclusion, this work suggests that consumption of Z. officinale can help to treat T2DM and diabetic complications; nevertheless, patient counseling also is required as a guiding force for the success of diet-based therapy in T2DM.

Erzhi Formula Extracts Reverse Renal Injury in Diabetic Nephropathy Rats by Protecting the Renal Podocytes

“…In recent years, effective monomers or extracts from natural plants have been widely applied to the treatment of diabetic nephropathy (DN) [1–3]. Erzhi formula was composed of Ligustri lucidi fructus and Eclipte herba by the ratio 1:1 [4].…”

An herbal formulation containing Zingiber officinale rhizomes and Allium sativum cloves can increase oral glucose tolerance in mice

“…Rhizomes of the first, known in English as ginger and locally as ada, and cloves of the second, known in English as garlic and locally as roshun, are used in a large number of dishes of Bangladesh, which includes vegetable, fish and meat dishes. The antidiabetic efficacy of Z. officinale rhizomes have been reviewed [2,3]. The efficacy of A. sativum cloves against diabetes and diabetes-induced complications have also been variously reported [4][5][6].…”

Hepatoprotective effects of <i>Sapium sebiferum</i> in paracetamol-induced liver injury

“…Chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and fatty liver are the liver diseases for which treatment is complicated . Plant-based therapeutic strategies for the treatment of different diseases are gaining more attention owing to the presence of risk -free phytochemical constituents (Akash et al, 2011;Akash et al, 2014a,b;Akash et al, 2015;Parveen et al, 2014;Ali et al, 2014;Ibrahim et al, 2013;Akash et al, 2015;Rehman et al, 2012). Several studies have confirmed the hepatoprotective effectiveness of several plant extracts (Sadeque et al, 2010;Hegde et al, 2010;Hussain et al, 2014a,b) to cure liver diseases and unveiled their mechanisms of hepatoprotective activity.…”