Since ancient times, civilization has created medicines from nature. The oldest written evidence of medicinal plants’ usage for the preparation of drugs has been found on the Sumerian clay slab from Mesopotamia & Nagpur, approximately 5000 years old. In countries like India and China, herbal roots are used as a key element in their medical system. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 25% of modern drugs used in the United States have been derived from plants. Ginger (<i>Zingiber officinale</i>, <i>Zingiberaceae</i>) is a tropical perennial herb native to Southeast Asia and is widely cultivated in China, India, Nigeria, Australia, Jamaica, and Haiti. There have been about 115 chemical components identified in ginger root. The most important chemical components of the root are gingerols, paradols, zingerone, and shogaols; with gingerols being the most abundant. When gingerols are extracted, produce other compounds that have many medical benefits; including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticarcinogenic. The aim of this research is to extract the essential oils of Ginger and analyze the antibacterial properties of the said oils. This study can provide an alternate method for antibacterial treatment. Ginger oil has been used in treatments for “colds, flu, nausea, motion sickness, morning sickness, muscle aches, and pains, as well as poor circulation and arthritic pain.” This research can expand the resourcefulness of ginger oil and lead to more accessible and affordable antibacterial medicines.

From ancient medicine to the modern antibacterial antiviral solution

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.