Ginger may help asthmatics breath easy
Gourmands and foodies everywhere have long recognised ginger as a great way to add a little peppery zing to both sweet and savoury dishes; now, a study from researchers at Columbia University shows purified components of the spicy root also may have properties that help asthma patients breathe more easily.
Asthma is characterised by
bronchoconstriction, a tightening of the bronchial tubes that carry air into
and out of the lungs. Bronchodilating medications called beta-agonists are
among the most common types of asthma medications and work by relaxing the
airway smooth muscle (ASM) tissues.
This study looked at whether
specific components of ginger could help enhance the relaxing effects of
bronchodilators. The researchers found that tissues treated with the
combination of purified ginger components and isoproterenol exhibited
significantly greater relaxation than those treated only with isoproterenol; of
the three ginger components, 6-shogaol appeared most effective in increasing
the relaxing effects of the beta-agonist.
Taken together, the data showed that ginger constituents 6-gingerol, 8-gingerol and 6-shogaol act synergistically with the beta-agonist in relaxing ASM, indicating that these compounds may provide additional relief of asthma symptoms when used in combination with beta-agonists, the researchers noted.
Taken together, the data showed that ginger constituents 6-gingerol, 8-gingerol and 6-shogaol act synergistically with the beta-agonist in relaxing ASM, indicating that these compounds may provide additional relief of asthma symptoms when used in combination with beta-agonists, the researchers noted.
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