Effects of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) on the Hallmarks of Aging

Abstract

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) is broadly used as a traditional remedy and food ingredient, and numerous preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated health benefits in a range of age-related disorders. Moreover, longevity-promoting effects have been demonstrated in several (preclinical) research models. With this work, we aimed to comprehensively review the reported effects of ginger and its bioactive constituents on the twelve established hallmarks of aging, with the ultimate goal of gaining a deeper understanding of the potential for future interventions in the area of longevity-extension and counteracting of aging-related diseases. The reviewed literature supports the favorable effects of ginger and some of its constituents on all twelve hallmarks of aging, with a particularly high number of animal research studies indicating counteraction of nutrient-sensing dysregulations, mitochondrial dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and dysbiosis. On this background, validation in human clinical trials is still insufficient or is entirely missing, with the exception of some studies indicating positive effects on deregulated nutrient-sensing, chronic inflammation, and dysbiosis. Thus, the existing body of literature clearly supports the potential of ginger to be further studied in clinical trials as a supplement for the promotion of both lifespan and health span.

Keywords: ginger; hallmarks of aging; health span; inflammation; life-extension; lifespan; longevity; metabolism.

Figure 1

Summary of the effects of ginger and its constituents on the hallmarks of aging and the respective involved mechanisms (created with BioRender.com (accessed on 18 July 2024)).

Figure 2

Chemical structures and common names of the major bioactive constituents of ginger, including nonvolatile (panel (A)) and volatile compounds (sesqui- and monoterpenes, panel (B)).