In theNaturopathy and herbal medicineAs a remedy, ginger is known to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. The plant is therefore a popular natural product for treating inflammatory diseases. But how much of this is supported by science? Researchers have conducted a study in this regard.
Effects of ginger as a medicine
The new research suggests that ginger root's key bioactive compound, (6) gingerol, is therapeutic against the mechanismacts on certain autoimmune diseasestriggers in mice. The researchers specifically looked at lupus, a disease that attacks the body's immune system. This often leads to the associated antiphospholipid syndrome. Accordingly, it causes blood clots as both activate widespread inflammation and damage organs over time. In mice with either antiphospholipid syndrome or lupus, 6-gingerol prevented the release of extracellular neutrophils. These are triggered by the autoantibodies that the body produces in this disease. Neutrophil extracellular traps come from white blood cells called neutrophils. These sticky structures, which resemble spider webs, arise when autoantibodies interact with receptors on the surface of the neutrophil. The nets play an important role in the pathogenesis of lupus and antiphospholipid syndrome, where they trigger the formation of autoantibodies and lead to clotting and damage to blood vessels.
The most surprising finding was that the lab mice, regardless of whether they had antiphospholipid syndrome or lupus, had reduced autoantibodies. This indicates inflammation, with autoantibodies that activate neutrophils broken. Although the study was conducted in mouse models, the authors believe that the preclinical data supports the development of clinical trials. In addition, the results show that 6-gingerol has anti-neutrophil properties that may protect against the progression of the autoimmune disease. Such a bioactive compound from ginger as a remedy cannot be the primary therapy for someone with active antiphospholipid syndrome or lupus. The authorsthis studyHowever, are interested to see if the natural supplement can help those who are at high risk of developing diseases. Those who have autoantibodies but no activated disease may benefit from this treatment if 6-gingerol proves protective in humans as it has in mice.
