Antidiarrhoeal activity of Zingiber officinale (Rosc.)

Zingiber officinale (ginger) was studied for its antimicrobial profile and effect on virulent features of diarrhoeal pathogens, viz. colonization of epithelial cells and production of enterotoxins. Z. officinale showed no antimicrobial activity. Although it inhibited the production of cholera toxin, it had no effect on the action of this toxin. It also had no effect on the production and action of E. coli heat labile and heat stable toxins. However the bacterial colonization of HEp-2 cells was reduced. The results indicate that in the absence of antimicrobial action, Z. officinale exhibits its antidiarrhoeal activity by affecting bacterial and host cell metabolism. The present study reports a novel mechanism of action by Z. officinale in infectious diarrhoea.