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Eight Zingiber species (Z. densissimum S.Q.Tong & Y.M.Xia, Z. kerrii Craib, Z. ligulatum Roxb., Z. nudicarpum D.Fang, Z. orbiculatum S.Q.Tong, Z. parishii Hook.f. subsp. phuphanense Triboun & K.Larsen, Z. recurvatum S.Q.Tong & Y.M.Xia and Z. smilesianum Craib) are newly recorded for the flora of Laos, raising the total number of species to 25. Colour illustrations, notes on their distribution, and citations of the specimens supporting the new records are given, as well as vernacular names and uses. An updated checklist of Zingiber in Laos, with an indication of the current sectional placement of each species, is presented.

Background Ginger ( Zingiber officinale Roscoe), a plant of considerable medicinal and culinary importance, frequently encounters adverse environmental challenges in cultivation. While BBX genes are recognized as fundamental regulators of plant growth and developmental processes, and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses, a comprehensive characterization of the BBX gene family in ginger has yet to be fully accomplished. Result This study identified 31 members of the BBX gene family in ginger, designated as ZoBBXs , and analyzed their principal characteristics. A comprehensive analysis was conducted on the gene features, conserved protein motifs, chromosome location, phylogenetic relationships, and gene duplication events in ZoBBXs . Based on their gene structures, conserved domains, and motifs, the ZoBBX genes were categorized into five distinct groups. Additionally, the expression patterns of ZoBBXs were investigated across various developmental stages and in response to abiotic stresses, including ABA, cold, drought, heat, and salt treatments, utilizing RNA-seq data and qRT-PCR analysis. Notably, ZoBBX#11 and ZoBBX#27 were identified as potential key regulators of flowering, whereas ZoBBX#05 and ZoBBX#17 appear to play significant roles in stress response mechanisms. Conclusion This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the BBX gene family in ginger, laying the groundwork for future research into the roles of specific ZoBBX genes in ginger's growth, development, and tolerance to abiotic stresses.

Background The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors play important physiological functions in the processes of plant growth, development, and response to abiotic stresses. However, a comprehensive genome-scale study of the ginger bHLH gene family has not been documented. Results In this study, 142 ZobHLH genes were identified in the ginger genome. Using Arabidopsis bHLH proteins as a reference, ZobHLH genes were classified into 15 subfamilies and unevenly distributed on 11 chromosomes of ginger. Sequence characterization, multiple sequence alignment, phylogenetic analysis, conserved protein motifs and exon-intron distribution patterns were conducted to further analyze the evolutionary relationships among these ZobHLH proteins. The results of the duplicated event analysis demonstrated that the pivotal role of segment duplication in promoting the expansion of the ZobHLH gene family. Additionally, analysis of cis -regulatory elements as well as protein interaction networks indicated the potential involvement of ginger ZobHLH family proteins in plant growth and development, and response to adversity stress. RNA-seq and RT-qPCR results showed that ZobHLH083 and ZobHLH108 play key roles in response to salt stress and waterlogging stress, respectively. Conclusion In this study, we systematically analyzed the characteristics of ZobHLH proteins in ginger, discovering that these genes play critical roles in ginger rhizome expansion and response to salt and waterlogging stresses. The present study provides a theoretical foundation for the further research on ZobHLHs and will help to explore the functional properties of ZobHLH genes.

The identities of two historical names, Zingiber neesanum (≡ Alpinia neesana) and Z. macrostachyum are re-investigated. Both have been considered to represent the same taxonomic entity by various workers in the past 160 years. Yet, based on traditional usage, they were applied to two distinct taxa occurring in the Western Ghats (India), both superficially similar by having long-stalked inflorescences, but much distinct in flower colour and overall morphology. Alpinia neesana was originally described only from fruiting material, while Z. macrostachyum was described from flowering material of a species with white flowers. Dalzell’s presumption that his taxon was identical to Graham’s, and unambiguous inclusion of A. neesana in his description made his name nomenclaturally superfluous and illegitimate. After realising the illegitimacy of Dalzell’s name, a new combination was created in Zingiber for A. neesana. The name Z. neesanum continued to be applied sensu Dalzell to the white-flowered species mainly in the central and southern Western Ghats, but it was also applied to a yellow-flowered species in the northern Western Ghats, for which another name, Z. diwakarianum, was proposed recently. Despite the absence of any original material relating to Graham’s or Dalzell’s descriptions, re-collections from the type localities prove beyond any reasonable doubt that the yellow-flowered species is the true Z. neesanum, making Z. diwakarianum a synonym, and that the existing name Z. anamalayanum has to be applied to the white-flowered species, originally described by Dalzell as Z. macrostachyum. The significance of authentic primary data sources concerning botanical history such as correspondence and manuscripts of collectors and botanists, and the importance of making these resources widely accessible through digitisation are highlighted.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) is a spice, medicinal and cosmetic plant that has been known for centuries. It can be used in dried, fresh, marinated or candied form, and is also an essential ingredient in well-known curry blends. Ginger rhizomes are often freeze-dried as the first step in the preparation of the raw material. Many studies have proved that the composition and biological activity of ginger changes due to thermal processing. Therefore, the aim of the review was to summarize the scientific results on the impact of traditional and unconventional methods of the heat treatment of ginger rhizomes and their influence on the antioxidant and other selected biological activities of the plant. The review of the available scientific data is inconclusive, and it is hard to state unequivocally whether the thermal treatment of the raw material increases or decreases biological activity. Based on the presented literature review, it can be concluded that traditional cooking and microwave processing in general decrease the antioxidant activity of the ginger rhizome, whereas frying, autoclaving, blanching or traditional drying in the sun mostly lead to a significant increase in ginger activity. Interesting data were presented in the works describing the freeze-drying process during which the antioxidant potential of ginger increased.

The rhizomes of ginger have been in use in many forms of traditional and alternative medicines. Besides being employed as condiment and flavoring agent, it is used in the treatment of nausea, osteoarthritis, muscle pain, menstrual pain, chronic indigestion, Alzheimer’s disease, and cancer. Ginger rhizome contains volatile oils, phenolic compounds and resins, and characterization studies showed that [6]-gingerol, [6]-shogaol, and [6]-paradol are reported to be the pharmacologically active components. Gingerol is a major chemical constituent found as volatile oil in the rhizomes of ginger. It has several medicinal benefits and used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, nausea, cancer, and diabetes. Many studies have been carried out in various parts of the world to isolate and standardize gingerol for their use as a complementary medicine. The present review summarizes wide range of research studies on gingerol and its pharmacological roles in various metabolic diseases. Graphical Abstract

Zingiber species are members of the Zingiberaceae family, and are widely used for medicinal and food purposes. In this study aboveground and root parts of Zingiber mioga and Zingiber officinale were subjected to metabolite profiling by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) and gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOF-MS) in order to characterize them by species and parts and also to measure bioactivities. Both primary and secondary metabolites showed clear discrimination in the PCA score plot and PLS-DA by species and parts. Tetrahydrocurcumin, diarylheptanoid, 8-gingerol, and 8-paradol were discriminating metabolites between Z. mioga and Z. officinale that were present in different quantities. Eleven flavonoids, six amino acids, six organic acids, four fatty acids, and gingerenone A were higher in the aboveground parts than the root parts. Antioxidant activities were measured and were highest in the root part of Z. officinale. The relatively high contents of tetrahydrocurcumin, diarylheptanoid, and galanganol C in the root part of Z. officinale showed highly positive correlation with bioactivities based on correlation assay. On the basis of these results, we can suggest different usages of structurally different parts of Zingiber species as food plants.

Plants of the genus Zingiber (Family Zingiberaceae) are widely used throughout the world as food and medicinal plants. They represent very popular herbal remedies in various traditional healing systems; in particular, rhizome of Zingiber spp. plants has a long history of ethnobotanical uses because of a plethora of curative properties. Antimicrobial activity of rhizome essential oil has been extensively confirmed in vitro and attributed to its chemical components, mainly consisting of monoterpene and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons such as α-zingiberene, ar-curcumene, β-bisabolene and β-sesquiphellandrene. In addition, gingerols have been identified as the major active components in the fresh rhizome, whereas shogaols, dehydrated gingerol derivatives, are the predominant pungent constituents in dried rhizome. Zingiber spp. may thus represent a promising and innovative source of natural alternatives to chemical food preservatives. This approach would meet the increasing concern of consumers aware of the potential health risks associated with the conventional antimicrobial agents in food. This narrative review aims at providing a literature overview on Zingiber spp. plants, their cultivation, traditional uses, phytochemical constituents and biological activities.

Zingiber officinale Roscoe is commonly used in food and pharmaceutical products but can also be used in cosmetics and daily necessities. In recent years, many scholars have studied the chemical composition of Zingiber officinale Roscoe; therefore, it is necessary to comprehensively summarize the chemical composition of Zingiber officinale Roscoe in one article. The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of the chemical constituents of Zingiber officinale Roscoe. The results show that Zingiber officinale Roscoe contains 194 types of volatile oils, 85 types of gingerol, and 28 types of diarylheptanoid compounds, which can lay a foundation for further applications of Zingiber officinale Roscoe.

Background AP2/ERF transcription factors (TFs) constitute one of the largest TF families in plants, which play crucial roles in plant metabolism, growth, and development as well as biotic and abiotic stresses responses. Although the AP2/ERF family has been thoroughly identified in many plant species and several AP2/ERF TFs have been functionally characterized, little is known about this family in ginger ( Zingiber officinale Roscoe), an important affinal drug and diet vegetable. Recent completion of the ginger genome sequencing provides an opportunity to investigate the expression profiles of AP2/ERF genes in ginger on a genome-wide basis. Results A total of 163 AP2/ERF g enes were obtained in the Z.officinale genome and renamed according to the chromosomal distribution of the ZoAP2/ERF genes. Phylogenetic analysis divided them into three subfamilies, of which 35 belonged to the AP2 subfamily, 120 to ERF, three to RAV, and five to Sololist, respectively, which is in accordance with the number of conserved domains and gene structure analysis. A total of 10 motifs were detected in ZoAP2/ERF genes, and some of the unique motifs were found to be important for the function of ZoAP2/ERF genes. The chromosomal localization, gene structure, and conserved protein motif analyses, as well as the characterization of gene duplication events provided deep insight into the evolutionary features of these ZoAP2/ERF genes. The expression profiles derived from the RNA-seq data and quantitative reserve transcription (qRT-PCR) analysis of ZoAP2/ERFs during development and responses to abiotic stresses were investigated in ginger. Conclusion A comprehensive analysis of the AP2/ERF gene expression patterns in various tissues by RNA-seq and qRT-PCR showed that they played an important role in the growth and development of ginger, and genes that might regulate rhizome and flower development were preliminary identified. In additionally, the ZoAP2/ERF family genes that responded to abiotic stresses were also identified. This study is the first time to identify the ZoAP2/ERF family, which contributes to research on evolutionary characteristics and better understanding the molecular basis for development and abiotic stress response, as well as further functional characterization of ZoAP2/ERF genes with an aim of ginger crop improvement.