Zingiber officinale Roscoe

Taxanomy

Phylum  : Magnoliophyta
Class     : Liliopsida
Order    : Zingiberales
Family   : Zingiberaceae
Genus   : Zingiber        
Species :Zingiber officinale Roscoe

                                                 

Common Name
Ginger, Halia

Characteristics

Z. officinale belongs to the Zingiberaceae family and is a biennial or perennial reed-like herb that can grow up to 1m tall. It is mainly cultivated for its bulbous rhizome.
 
                                                 

Morphology

Leaves
The plant has linear-lanceolate sheathing leaves that are dark green in color, 5-30 cm long and 8-20 mm wide. The leaves are arranged alternately on the stem, and the upper surface is smooth while the lower surface is slightly rough and covered with fine hairs. The ligule is light green.

Stem
The non-woody stem of Z. officinale is covered by leaf sheaths and has a digitately branched rhizome that grows underground.

Flower
The flowers of this plant are delicate and have a short lifespan. They are characterized by a white to pale yellow color and have purplish lips with yellow dots and striations. These flowers protrude just beyond the greenish to yellowish bracts that resemble leaves.

                                                    

Plant part used
Root/ Rhizome

Traditional uses

• Z. officinale has gained popularity in African traditional medicine due to its effects on the gastrointestinal system.
• The Zimbabwean people utilize the powdered rhizome of Z. officinale by steeping it in hot water and drinking it to alleviate abdominal pain.
  
• Z. officinale has potential as a carminative, diuretic, and antiemetic agent.

Medicinal used

• It is believed that ginger has the ability to alleviate fever and nausea.
• In both pre-clinical and human clinical studies, ginger has demonstrated properties that could relieve pain, lower cholesterol, reduce inflammation, act as an antioxidant, and potentially lower blood sugar levels.

                                                 

List of Country
Zingiber officinale is believed to have originated in South Asia and is thought to be native to India. It was introduced to Europe and East Africa by Arab traders. The plant is now distributed throughout tropical and subtropical Asia, as well as Far East Asia.

Red List Category
Data Deficient (DD)

Muhammad Nazri Azam Bin Jafree