Zingiber simaoense Y. Y. Qian (family Zingiberaceae) has a long history of use in traditional Thai medicine. The rhizome of this plant has been traditionally employed to treat gastric disorders. Notably, scientific studies in rats have documented the anti-gastric ulcer activity of the ethanol extract of Z. simaoense rhizome (ZSE), with its mechanism of action attributed to increased gastric wall mucus production. To identify ZSE sub-fractions with the most potent anti-gastric ulcer activity, ZSE was subjected to sequential solvent partitioning using n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and water, followed by column chromatography. The anti-gastric ulcer activity of these sub-fractions was then evaluated using an acidified ethanol (EtOH/HCl)-induced gastric ulcer model in rats. The results showed that sub-fraction 1, eluted from the combined n-hexane and dichloromethane fractions, exhibited the highest anti-gastric ulcer activity. α-Eudesmol and elemol, the most abundant compounds in this sub-fraction 1, may be responsible for this activity, though further studies are required to confirm their specific roles. Notably, the oral LD50 of sub-fraction 1 in rats exceeded 2,000 mg/kg, providing preliminary evidence of its safety. These findings highlight the potential of Z. simaoense rhizomes as a source for developing herbal health products with anti-gastric ulcer activity in the future.
Kunanusorn P, Anukanon S, Khonsung P. Anti-gastric ulcer activity of chromatography-separated fractions from the rhizome of Zingiber simaoense Y. Y. Qian. J Appl Pharm Sci. 2025. Online First. http://doi.org/10.7324/JAPS.2025.200685
1. Yuan Y, Padol IT, Hunt RH. Peptic ulcer disease today. Nat Clin Pract Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2006;3(2):80–9. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/ncpgasthep0393
2. Georges MH. Peptic ulcer disease and Helicobacter pylori. In: Kohlstadt I, editor. Advancing medicine with food and nutrients. 2nd ed. New York, NY: CRC Press; 2012. p. 229.
3. Schmeda-Hirschmann G, Yesilada E. Traditional medicine and gastroprotective crude drugs. J Ethnopharmacol. 2005;100(1-2):61– 6. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2005.06.002
4. Borrelli F, Izzo AA. The plant kingdom as a source of anti-ulcer remedies. Phytother Res. 2000;14(8):581–91. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/1099-1573(200012)14:8<581::aid-ptr776>3.0.co;2-s
5. Engqvist A, von Feilitzen F, Pyk E, Reichard H. Double-blind trial of deglycyrrhizinated liquorice in gastric ulcer. Gut. 1973;14(9):711–5. doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/gut.14.9.711
6. Theilade I. A synopsis of the genus Zingiber (Zingiberaceae) in Thailand. Nord J Bot. 1999;19(4):389–410. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1756-1051.1999.tb01220.x
7. Al-Amin M, Sultana GN, Hossain CF. Antiulcer principle from Zingiber montanum. J Ethnopharmacol. 2012;141(1):57–60. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2012.01.046
8. Siddaraju MN, Dharmesh SM. Inhibition of gastric H+, K+-ATPase and Helicobacter pylori growth by phenolic antioxidants of Zingiber officinale. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2007;51(3):324–32. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.200600202
9. al-Yahya MA, Rafatullah S, Mossa JS, Ageel AM, Parmar NS, Tariq M. Gastroprotective activity of ginger Zingiber officinale rosc., in albino rats. Am J Chin Med. 1989;17(1-2):51–6. doi: https://doi.org/10.1142/S0192415X89000097
10. Yamahara J, Mochizuki M, Rong HQ, Matsuda H, Fujimura H. The anti-ulcer effect in rats of ginger constituents. J Ethnopharmacol. 1988;23(2-3):299–304. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-8741(88)90009-8
11. Yamahara J, Hatakeyama S, Taniguchi K, Kawamura M, Yoshikawa M. Stomachic principles in ginger. II. Pungent and anti-ulcer effects of low polar constituents isolated from ginger, the dried rhizoma of Zingiber officinale Roscoe cultivated in Taiwan. The absolute stereostructure of a new diarylheptanoid. Yakugaku Zasshi. 1992;112(9):645–55. doi: https://doi.org/10.1248/yakushi1947.112.9_645
12. Qian YY. Zingiber simaoense. Bull Bot Res, Harbin. 1998;18:284–6.
13. Picheansoonthon C, Chaowalit M, Jirawong W. The explanation of traditional recipes: Osot?phra?na?rai (Title in Thai). Bangkok, Thailand: Amarin Printing and Publishing; 2005. 275 p (in Thai).
14. Baiubon P, Kunanusorn P, Khonsung P, Chiranthanut N, Panthong A, Rujjanawate C. Gastroprotective activity of the rhizome ethanol extract of Zingiber simaoense Y. Y. Qian in rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2016;194:571–6. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2016.10.049
15. Kunanusorn P, Laprasert C, Panthong A, Khonsung P, Chiranthanut N, Rujjanawate C. Gastric ulcer healing activity against acidified ethanol-induced gastric ulcer and gastroprotective mechanisms of Zingiber simaoense rhizome ethanol extract in rats. Pharmacogn Mag. 2020;16(68):152–60. doi: https://doi.org/10.4103/pm.pm_389_19
16. Mizui T, Doteuchi M. Effect of polyamines on acidified ethanol-induced gastric lesions in rats. Jpn J Pharmacol. 1983;33(5):939–45. doi: https://doi.org/10.1254/jjp.33.939
17. Cho CH, Ogle CW. A correlative study of the antiulcer effects of zinc sulphate in stressed rats. Eur J Pharmacol. 1978;48(1):97–105. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/0014-2999(78)90047-x
18. OECD. Guidelines for the testing of chemicals. Section 4-Health Effects (No 420 Acute Oral Toxicity-Fixed Dose Procedure). Paris, France: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development; 2002.
19. Cannell RJP. How to approach the isolation of a natural product. In: Cannell RJP, editor. Natural products isolation, methods in biotechnology. Totowa, NJ: Humana Press Inc.; 1998. 1–51 pp.
20. Liang YZ, Xie P, Chan K. Quality control of herbal medicines. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci. 2004;812(1-2):53– 70. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jchromb.2004.08.041
21. Joana Gil-Chávez G, Villa JA, Fernando Ayala-Zavala J, Basilio Heredia J, Sepulveda D, Yahia EM, et al. Technologies for extraction and production of bioactive compounds to be used as nutraceuticals and food ingredients: an overview. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf. 2013;2:5–23. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/1541-4337.12005
22. Orsi M, Essex JW. Passive permeation across lipid bilayers: a literature review. In: Sansom MSP, Biggin PC, editors. Molecular simulations and biomembranes. London, UK: The Royal Society of Chemistry; 2010, pp. 76–90.
23. Carroll JF, Paluch G, Coats J, Kramer M. Elemol and amyris oil repel the ticks Ixodes scapularis and Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) in laboratory bioassays. Exp Appl Acarol. 2010;51(4):383– 92. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-009-9329-0
24. Matsunaga T, Hasegawa C, Kawasuji T, Suzuki H, Saito H, Sagioka T, et al. Isolation of the antiulcer compound in essential oil from the leaves of Cryptomeria japonica. Biol Pharm Bull. 2000;23(5):595– 8. doi: https://doi.org/10.1248/bpb.23.595
25. Bomfim DS, Ferraz RP, Carvalho NC, Soares MB, Pinheiro ML, Costa EV, et al. Eudesmol isomers induce caspase-mediated apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2013;113(5):300–6. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/bcpt.12097
26. Arora CK, Arora RB, Mesta CK, Shanbag SN, Seshari R, Maheshwari ML, et al. Hypotensive activity of beta-eudesmol and some related sesquiterpenes. Indian J Med Res. 1967;55(5):463–72.
27. Chiou LC, Ling JY, Chang CC. Chinese herb constituent beta-eudesmol alleviated the electroshock seizures in mice and electrographic seizures in rat hippocampal slices. Neurosci Lett. 1997;231(3):171–4. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0304-3940(97)00557-0
28. Ma EL, Li YC, Tsuneki H, Xiao JF, Xia MY, Wang MW, et al. Beta-eudesmol suppresses tumour growth through inhibition of tumour neovascularisation and tumour cell proliferation. J Asian Nat Prod Res. 2008;10(1-2):159–67. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/10286020701394332
29. Costa EV, Teixeira SD, Marques FA, Duarte MC, Delarmelina C, Pinheiro ML, et al. Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oils of the Amazon Guatteriopsis species. Phytochemistry. 2008;69(9):1895–9. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2008.03.005
30. Horak S, Koschak A, Stuppner H, Striessnig J. Use-dependent block of voltage-gated Cav2.1 Ca2+ channels by petasins and eudesmol isomers. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2009;330(1):220–6. doi: https://doi.org/10.1124/jpet.109.151183
31. Chu SS, Jiang GH, Liu ZL. Insecticidal compounds from the essential oil of Chinese medicinal herb Atractylodes chinensis. Pest Manag Sci. 2011;67(10):1253–7. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.2180
32. Seo MJ, Kim SJ, Kang TH, Rim HK, Jeong HJ, Um JY, et al. The regulatory mechanism of β-eudesmol is through the suppression of caspase-1 activation in mast cell-mediated inflammatory response. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 2011;33(1):178–85. doi: https://doi.org/10.3109/08923973.2010.491082
33. Kimura Y, Sumiyoshi M. Effects of an Atractylodes lancea rhizome extract and a volatile component β-eudesmol on gastrointestinal motility in mice. J Ethnopharmacol. 2012;141(1):530–6. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2012.02.031
34. Rosenthal D. Theoretical limitations of gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric identification of multicomponent mixtures. Anal Chem. 1982;54(1):63–6. doi: https://doi.org/10.1021/ac00238a020
Year
Month