Medicinal Properties of Ginger and Garlic: A Review

Abstract

Plants have been reported to have very great potential for the treatment and management of some disease conditions. Many plants have been used by tribal and folklore: in different countries for the treatment of various diseases [1]. The medicinal value of plants lies in their bioactive phytochemical constituents. Aside from the primary use of spices as organoleptic enhancers in food preparation, they are increasingly finding other useful roles in animal health care. Currently, many spices and herbs are being investigated for their potential effects in health care. In literatures, there exist many reported findings on medicinal properties of certain spices. The rise in interest on medicinal properties of herbs and spices is consequent on the failing efficacy and toxicity associated with conventional drugs and their inaccessibility to poor rural dwellers or low-income earners. For a long time, there has been a resurgence of interest in the investigation of natural materials as a source of potential drug substance [2]. This study reviewed two important spices: ginger (Zingiber officinale) and garlic (Allium sativum) common in the culinary of Nigeria and many countries, highlighting some of their reported medicinal properties. Several peer-reviewed articles were consulted for this purpose.