→ Preparations from this Plant (3)
Botanical Description
A flowering plant whose rhizome (underground stem) is widely used as a spice and in traditional medicine. Native to Southeast Asia, it is now cultivated throughout the tropics and subtropics.
Taxonomic Classification
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Phylum
- Tracheophyta
- Class
- Liliopsida
- Order
- Zingiberales
Distribution & Habitat
Origin
Southeast Asia, likely the Indo-Malayan region. Cultivated for over 5,000 years.
Habitat
Warm, humid tropical and subtropical regions. Thrives in well-drained, fertile soil with partial shade.
Geographical Distribution
Widely cultivated in India, China, Nigeria, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Thailand, Philippines, Jamaica, and other tropical regions.
Plant Characteristics
- Growth Form
- Herb
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
⚗ Chemical Compounds
🌿 Plant Parts
🧬 DNA Barcode
⚗️ Chemical Profile
Chemical Components
0.3-3 %
6-Gingerol is the main pungent compound in fresh ginger
0.1-0.6 %
Forms from gingerol during drying; more pungent
Mild, sweet pungent principle; forms on cooking
20-35 % of essential oil
Main sesquiterpene hydrocarbon
1-3 %
Contains zingiberene, β-bisabolene, α-farnesene, β-sesquiphellandrene
Includes quercetin, zingerone glycosides
Ginger polysaccharides with immunomodulatory activity