Nitric oxide (NO) is a key signaling molecule regulating plant stress responses. In our study, the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) significantly promoted ginger seedling growth under salt stress, while treatment with the NO scavenger cPTIO resulted in an opposite response, supporting the involvement of NO in salt-stress responses. Transcriptome profiling of ginger leaves identified 2252 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were enriched in 55 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. Further, analysis showed that 19 DEGs were enriched in plant hormone signal transduction, while 16 DEGs were enriched in starch and sugar metabolism. NO treatment increased the levels of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), gibberellin 3 (GA3), and trans-zeatin (ZR), while reducing the levels of abscisic acid (ABA), methyl jasmonate (MeJA), and brassinosteroid (BR). Moreover, NO promoted the accumulation of soluble sugars and sucrose and enhanced the activities of key enzymes involved in starch and sucrose metabolism, thereby effectively improving osmotic adjustment. Collectively, NO improves antioxidant capacity, maintains endogenous phytohormone balance, and enhances osmotic adjustment, ultimately alleviating salt stress damage in ginger seedlings.

This in vitro study evaluated the efficacy of Zerumbone (ZER), a sesquiterpene phytochemical extracted from the rhizomes of Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Smith with reported antimicrobial properties, alone or combined with Dextranase (DEX) and DNase I (DNase), against polymicrobial biofilms of fluconazole-susceptible and fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans. Mixed-species biofilms were formed with C. albicans ATCC 90028 (CaS), C. albicans ATCC 96901 (CaR), and S. mutans UA159 and assessed in inhibition and disruption assays. Treatments included ZER, DEX, and DNase, individually or in combination. Efficacy was analyzed by total biofilm mass, metabolic activity (CFU/mm[2]), and live/dead cell assessment using CLSM. Data were analyzed by one- and two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's posthoc test (α = 0.05). In the biofilm inhibition assay, ZER and its combinations, particularly ZER + DEX, demonstrated enhanced activity against both C. albicans and S. mutans strains. For CaS + Sm biofilms, ZER, ZER + DEX, and DNase + DEX achieved similar and the greatest reduction in CaS viability (>2.7 log10), whereas, for S. mutans, DNase + DEX, ZER, and ZER + DEX were the most effective (>2.1 log10). ZER + DEX also significantly reduced total microbial load in CaR + Sm biofilm. Notably, ZER + Dextranase was the only treatment that significantly reduced dry weight in susceptible biofilms and produced the highest biomass reduction in both susceptible and resistant biofilms as measured by crystal violet staining. In the biofilm disruption assay, ZER + DNase caused the greatest reduction in CaS viability (2.08 log10), whereas ZER and ZER + DNase were most effective against S. mutans (>2.5 log10). For CaR + Sm biofilms, ZER + DEX and ZER + DNase were among the most effective treatments. The confocal microscopy results corroborated these findings, showing that ZER and all treatments combined with ZER significantly increased the proportion of dead cells under both tested conditions. Within the limitations of this in vitro study, ZER alone or in combination with matrix-degrading enzymes (DEX and DNase), showed enhanced activity against both inhibition and disruption of mixed-species biofilms of C. albicans and S. mutans, including fluconazole-resistant strains, suggesting potential for further investigation as an adjunctive antimicrobial approach.

The current study was designed to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with Ginger (Zingiber officinale), Bindii (Tribulus terrestris), and Carob (Ceratonia siliqua) on reproduction parameters of cryopreserved sperm of breeding roosters during the post-peak phase. For this purpose, 20 roosters were assigned to four equal groups and fed the following diets for 60 days: the control group (basal diet with no herbal plant supplementation), and the other groups received Bindii (1.5 g/kg diet), Carob (15 g/kg diet), and Ginger (10 g/kg diet) powders as feed additives. After 60 days of dietary supplementation, semen was collected twice weekly for four weeks. The qualified semen samples were pooled, diluted, frozen and stored for quality evaluation. After thawing, sperm motility, membrane integrity, abnormal morphology, mitochondrial activity, acrosome integrity, viability, apoptosis status, lipid peroxidation, DNA fragmentation, ROS concentration, fertility potential, and hatchability were evaluated. Results showed that feeding all plant-based dietary supplements resulted in higher (P ≤ 0.05) sperm total motility, progressive motility, viability, membrane integrity, mitochondrial activity, and acrosome integrity than the control group. Moreover, groups fed herbs showed lower (P ≤ 0.05) lipid peroxidation, secondary apoptosis, DNA fragmentation and ROS concentration than those fed only the basal diet. Fertility rates during artificial insemination were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) for roosters fed all herbs than those receiving a diet without plant-based dietary supplementation. In conclusion, the application of Bindii, Carob, and Ginger as herbal additives in a rooster diet could be an effective method to improve the quality and fertilizing ability of frozen-thawed semen.

This study evaluated the effect of particle size reduction of red ginger (Zingiber officinale var. rubrum) powder on extraction yield, DPPH radical-scavenging activity, and chemical profile. Powders with D50 ranging from 2256 to 0.22 µm were extracted using methanol and analyzed for yield, DPPH radical-scavenging activity, ATR-FTIR fingerprint, and metabolite composition using LC-HRMS. Multivariate analysis was applied to correlate spectral features with DPPH radical-scavenging activity. Particle size reduction significantly increased extraction yield from 3.36% ± 0.26% to 10.31% ± 0.20%. However, the DPPH radical-scavenging activity expressed per gram of extract showed a non-linear trend, with the highest value observed in coarse particles (18.10 ± 1.42 mg TE g[-1] extract), decreasing at microscale, and partially recovering at nanoscale (15.88 ± 0.44 mg TE g[-1] extract). ATR-FTIR combined with OPLS identified spectral features associated with the DPPH radical-scavenging activity, including O─H, C═O, aromatic C═C, and C─O vibrations, indicative of phenolic ketone structures. LC-HRMS profiling indicated particle-size-associated compositional differences, including lower relative 6-gingerol signals and higher relative shogaol-related signals at the microscale, as well as higher relative lipid-related signals at the nanoscale. Particle size reduction modulates both extraction efficiency and chemical selectivity. While nanoscale processing enhances extract recovery, it alters metabolite composition and reduces DPPH radical-scavenging activity per unit extract, highlighting a trade-off between extract yield and DPPH radical-scavenging activity per unit extract. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Reducing the particle size of red ginger powder to the nanoscale substantially increases the extraction yield. Therefore, planetary ball milling remains an efficient strategy for maximizing the utilization of red ginger raw materials in the food and nutraceutical industries.

Cytogenetic information remains limited for many rare and geographically restricted species of Zingiber in Thailand. This study investigated chromosome numbers, karyotype characteristics, centromeric-index and relative chromosome-length variation, and karyotype asymmetry in Z. brachystachys, Z. gramineum, Z. mekongense, Z. pellitum, and Z. pyroglossum. Somatic chromosomes were examined from root-tip meristems using the aceto-orcein squash technique, followed by quantitative karyotype analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), UPGMA clustering, and Stebbins asymmetry classification. All five examined taxa had 2n = 22 and NF = 44 but differed in karyotype formula: 8sm + 3st, 3m + 7sm + 1st, 5sm + 6st, 1m + 5sm + 5st, and 7sm + 3st + 1t, respectively. Multivariate analyses incorporating both centromeric index (CI) and relative chromosome length (RL) showed clear karyomorphometric differentiation among the five taxa. UPGMA analysis grouped Z. pellitum and Z. brachystachys most closely, whereas Z. gramineum joined the remaining taxa at the greatest clustering distance. The first two PCA components explained 74.591% of the total variation. Stebbins categories ranged from 3A to 4B. These results provide new comparative cytogenetic data for five rare Thai Zingiber species and demonstrate interspecific variation in chromosome morphology despite uniformity in chromosome number.

Whether high-yielding cultivars recruit a universally beneficial microbial community or deploy location-specific strategies remains unknown. To address this, we evaluated two ginger cultivars ('Dianjiang G04' and 'Dianjiang G07') grown at two locations with contrasting soil physicochemical properties, Kunming (KM) and Luoping (LP), Yunnan Province, China. Ginger yield, soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, and rhizosphere bacterial and fungal communities were investigated using a two-site × two-cultivar factorial design. Cultivar exerted the strongest effect on yield, with G07 outyielding G04 and KM-G07 producing the highest yield. Compared with Luoping, Kunming soils generally exhibited higher pH, NO3[-]-N, available phosphorus, available potassium, enzyme activities, and alpha diversity. Bacterial and fungal communities were clearly differentiated between locations. Additionally, cultivar-related community divergence was more pronounced in Luoping than in Kunming. Redundancy analysis showed that pH, total phosphorus, total potassium, invertase, urease, and protease were closely associated with microbial variation, while functional predictions revealed location- and cultivar-dependent shifts in bacterial metabolism and fungal trophic guilds. Partial least squares regression identified cultivar, nutrients, enzyme activities, Trichocladium, and Bacillus as key yield predictors. These findings indicate that ginger performance depends on cultivar-soil properties compatibility rather than on cultivar selection alone: cultivar determines yield, but soil properties shape the microbial community, confirming that high-yielding cultivars achieve superiority through site-specific microbial recruitment. Therefore, G07 should be prioritized in soils with more favorable pH conditions and greater N, P, and K availability, whereas in less fertile or acidic soils, alternative cultivars or targeted soil amelioration may be more appropriate.

Background/Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease, and ginger contains phenolic constituents with anti-inflammatory potential. This study evaluated the antiarthritic efficacy of ginger ethanolic extract (GE) and explored its potential mechanisms through integrated pharmacological and computational approaches. Methods: GE was prepared by 70% ethanol reflux extraction and administered to adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rats, with methotrexate as a positive control. Body weight; paw swelling; arthritis index; spleen index; and serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were measured. Chemical profiling was performed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS), followed by network pharmacology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. Results: GE attenuated paw edema, arthritis index elevation, splenic enlargement, and elevated serum inflammatory mediators in AIA rats. UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS annotated 38 constituents, mainly gingerols, shogaols, gingerdiones, gingerdiols, and related phenolic derivatives. Network analysis identified 217 overlapping ginger- and RA-associated targets, with TNF, IL6, and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) prioritized among inflammatory and matrix-remodeling nodes. Docking and MD simulations supported stable predicted interactions for 8-gingerol-TNF and 6-gingerol-MMP9. Conclusions: GE showed antiarthritic activity in AIA rats. The integrated chemical, in vivo, and computational data suggest that ginger phenolics may modulate inflammatory mediators and candidate RA-related pathways; however, these mechanisms remain exploratory and require histological, tissue-level, and molecular validation.

The metabolic effects of ginger (Zingiber officinale) on type 2 diabetes have been increasingly assessed in clinical trials, but the results remain inconsistent. In this updated meta-analysis, the Cochrane Library, Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched from the inception to November 12, 2025, to find randomised controlled trials comparing the effect of ginger and placebo on the metabolic indexes of patients with type 2 diabetes. Pooling data from 13 articles with 837 participants indicated that treatment with ginger significantly decreased fasting blood sugar (FBS) (weighted mean difference (WMD) -16.22 mg per 100 mL, 95 % confidence interval (CI) (-25.49, -6.95), I[2] = 85.67 %), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (WMD -0.49 %, 95 % CI (-0.86, -0.12), I[2] = 98.14 %), triglyceride level (WMD -17.04 mg per 100 mL, 95 % CI (-28.61, -5.47), I[2] = 71.30 %), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (WMD -5.5 mg per 100 mL, 95 % CI (-10.98, -0.01), I[2] = 83.99 %). However, the beneficial effects of ginger on body mass index (BMI), homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), total cholesterol, high-density lipo-protein-cholesterol (HDL-C), and systolic and diastolic blood pressure did not meet the threshold of statistical significance. Ginger was more effective at a daily dose of less than 2000 mg (powdered rhizome of Zingiber officinale administered orally) and in males, individuals younger than 54 years, and individuals with a baseline HbA1c of more than 8 %.

Osteoporosis is a chronic bone disease marked by reduced density and increased fracture risk. Current treatments face limitations in safety, efficacy, and long-term adherence, prompting interest in alternative therapies. Herbal medicine, with its bioactive compounds and historical use, offers potential for bone health support. This review explores the role of Chrysanthemum morifolium, Crocus sativus, Eriobotrya japonica, Ficus carica, Glycine max, Olea europaea, Salvia rosmarinus, and Zingiber officinale in preventing and managing osteoporosis. Relevant studies were identified through comprehensive searches of Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, without time restriction up to October 2025. Included literature encompassed in vitro experiments, in vivo animal models, and clinical trials investigating herbal interventions targeting bone loss and osteoporosis-related mechanisms. The reviewed botanicals modulate key molecular pathways involved in bone remodeling, including RANKL/NFATc1, MAPKs, NF-κB, Sirt1, Nrf2, BMP/Smad, Wnt/β-catenin, and XPO5-microRNA axes. Their bioactive constituents exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, anti-senescent, and hormone-modulating effects, collectively promoting osteoblast differentiation and suppressing osteoclastogenesis. Several agents, such as crocin, safranal, and ursolic acid, demonstrated dual-action profiles and favorable safety in preclinical models, with emerging evidence supporting their immunomodulatory and angiogenic roles. Herbal therapeutics offer a multi-targeted, biologically harmonious approach to osteoporosis management. This review provides a mechanistic synthesis and translational framework for future research, highlighting their potential as adjunctive therapies, especially in aging populations. Standardization, clinical validation, and interdisciplinary collaboration are essential to advance these botanicals from bench to bedside.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a prevalent pediatric hematologic malignancy associated with a poor clinical prognosis, largely due to drug-induced toxicity, the emergence of resistance, and frequent disease relapse. Edible plants offer promising complementary therapeutic approaches through their bioactive compounds, which are characterized by favorable safety profiles. Zingiber officinale (ginger), commonly consumed both as a dietary component and as a traditional medicinal herb, has garnered increasing scientific interest; however, its potential antileukemic properties remain largely unexplored. Crude extracts from four ginger cultivars exhibited antileukemic activity in AML cells. Metabolomic profiling was used to screen for candidate constituents, and Arctigenin was selected for further investigation. Its presence in the ginger extracts was verified by targeted UHPLC-MS analysis using an authentic standard, followed by evaluation of its antileukemic activity. Arctigenin showed potent and selective cytotoxicity against AML cells, particularly HL60 cells. Network pharmacology was employed to predict potential molecular targets, followed by molecular docking and 100-ns molecular dynamics simulations to evaluate potential interactions, suggesting PARP1 and NFκB1 as potential molecular targets. Experimental analyses further demonstrated that Arctigenin induced apoptosis and altered NFκB and PARP protein expression in AML cells. In vivo experiments demonstrated that Arctigenin significantly suppressed tumor growth in an AML xenograft mouse model, achieving efficacy comparable to that of cytarabine, without inducing hepatosplenic toxicity or metabolic disturbances. These findings provide the first evidence supporting ginger as a novel phytochemical resource for AML therapy and support Arctigenin as a promising antileukemic candidate, underscoring its potential for incorporation into food-based or plant-derived therapeutic strategies.

Economically motivated adulteration of powdered ginger with low-cost cereal flours represents an increasing concern for food authenticity and quality control. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a rapid, reliable, and non-destructive method for the quantitative determination of powdered ginger adulteration using visible and near-infrared (Vis-NIR) spectroscopy coupled with chemometric modelling. Ginger powder samples were adulterated with wheat, corn, and rice flours at concentrations ranging from 5 to 50% (w/w), with particular emphasis on the low-to-medium adulteration interval (10-25%), where reliable quantification is especially relevant for food fraud detection. Spectral data acquired in the visible (400-700 nm), near-infrared (700-2500 nm), and combined Vis-NIR (400-2500 nm) regions were preprocessed using Savitzky-Golay filtering and evaluated using Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR), Support Vector Regression (SVR), and Random Forest Regression (RFR). In addition, Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), Support Vector Machines (SVM), and Random Forest (RF) were compared for sample classification. Among the evaluated approaches, LDA achieved the highest classification accuracy (>95%) using the NIR spectroscopic region, while PLSR models developed from the NIR spectral region provided the best quantitative performance, with validation coefficients of determination above 0.99, prediction errors below 1%, and RPD values greater than 13. The results demonstrate that Vis-NIR spectroscopy combined with chemometric modelling enables accurate discrimination between authentic and adulterated samples, as well as reliable quantification of flour adulteration in powdered ginger without sample preparation or chemical reagents. The proposed methodology constitutes a rapid, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective analytical strategy with strong potential for routine quality control and food fraud prevention.

Recent advances in nanotechnology offer promising solutions for controlling postharvest fungal diseases, a primary cause of economic losses in Carica papaya production. This study assessed the antifungal activity of essential oils (EOs) from Syzygium aromaticum buds (BSA) and Zingiber officinale rhizomes (RZO), alone and in combinations, as well as their nanoemulsion, against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Fusarium equiseti, and Lasiodiplodia theobromae, the main pathogens causing papaya rot. EOs were extracted, characterized by GC-MS, and tested individually or in combinations (v/v: 70/30, 50/50, 30/70: BSA/RZO) via the food poisoning method. The optimal combination (70/30: BSA/RZO) showed synergistic effects (FICI: 0.4869-0.8615) and was formulated into a nanoemulsion (NEOco_70/30: BSA/RZO) using low-energy emulsification. The nanoemulsion exhibited a polydispersity index of 0.1330, specific surface area of 2.9 m[2]/g, mean droplet size of 130 nm, and zeta potential of 34 mV, with excellent physicochemical and rheological stability. EO_BSA was dominated by eugenol (88.08%) and caryophyllene (6.20%), while EO_RZO featured α-zingiberene (22.64%) and geranial (18.76%). NEOco_70/30: BSA/RZO displayed in vitro mycelial inhibition, with MICs of 75 µL/L, 125 µL/L, and 200 µL/L against C. gloeosporioides, F. equiseti, and L. theobromae, respectively. In situ on papaya fruits, it fully prevented necrosis (100% inhibition) at 1250 µL/L in preventive assays and reduced it by 93.24% at 1500 µL/L in curative tests. The combined EO nanoemulsion was more effective than the individual raw EOs and their combinations. These findings underscore the potential of EO nanoemulsions (NEOco_70/30: BSA/RZO) as eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic fungicides for postharvest protection of papaya.

Canine malignant melanoma is an aggressive neoplasm with limited remedial options. Therefore, the development of novel antineoplastic agents is urgently needed. This study investigated the medicinal potential and molecular mechanisms of Zingiber cassumunar Roxb. essential oil (CEO) against canine melanoma. Phytochemical profiling via GC-MS identified 22 compounds, with monoterpenoids (90.99%) predominating, specifically sabinene (53.25%) and terpinen-4-ol (17.99%). CEO exhibited potent, concentration-dependent cytotoxicity across four canine melanoma cell lines, with a mean IC50 of approximately 0.006% v/v. Quantitative proteomic mapping of CEO-treated M5 cells identified a total of 222 differentially expressed proteins associated with systemic cellular collapse. Key mechanisms included significant genotoxic stress (upregulation of H2AX and histone variants), endoplasmic reticulum stress (suppression of CALR and HSPB1), and the activation of a coordinated necroptosis/mitophagy axis (modulation of Drp1, VDAC, and p62). Protein-protein interaction network analysis further identified SLC2A1 as a central metabolic hub with high-confidence connectivity to conventional chemotherapies, suggesting that CEO-induced metabolic disruption converges onto core pathways targeted by 5-fluorouracil and imatinib. These findings suggest that CEO induces complex cell death signatures through coordinated nuclear and organelle stress. Ultimately, it should be considered as a promising candidate for future translational research and functional validation.