Ardraka

Botanical Name: Zingiber officinale Rosc.

Family:  Zingiberaceae

Identification No.: SDACH/HG/022

Introduction: Mainly dried ginger using in Ayurveda formulation.. So it used as the prashepa dravyas for many drugs.

Names in different Indian languages:

English : Ginger

Hindi : Adarak

Kannada : Hasisunti, Ardraka

Malayalam : Inci, Erukkilannu

Sanskrit : Ardrakam

Tamil : Inji, Allam, Lokottai

Telugu : Allamu,ardrakamu

Unani : Zanjabeele- Ratab,Al-Zanjabeel

 Dry  Rhizome

English : Dry Ginger

Hindi : Soth

Kannada: sunti

Malayalam: Chukku

Sanskrit : Sunthi, Visvabhesajam

Tamil : Chukku, Sunthi

Telugu : Sunti

Unani : zanjabeel,Zanjabeel-eyaabis.

Synonyms :

Fresh rhizome—

Aardraka, Aadrikaa, Shrngibera, shrngavera, Katubhadra.

Dried rhizome—

Shunthi, Naagara,Naagaraa, Naagaraka, Aushadha, Mahaushadha, Vishvaa, Vishvabheshaja, Vishvaaushadha

Amomum zingiber L.

Classification according to Charaka, Susrutha & Vagbhata :

Charaka : Triptighna, Arsoghna, Dipaniya, sulaprasamana, Trisnã nigrahana

Susrutha : Pippalyãdi, Trikatu

Vagbhata : Pippalyãdi, Trikatu

 Varieties & adulterants – (CV – controversy, AD – adulterants) :

1. Dry Ginger – Nagara, Visvabhesaja

2. Fresh Ginger – Ardraka, Srngabera.

3. Adulterants – Japanese Ginger

Morphology:

An erect perennial herb with aromatic rhizome.

Stem— erect, leafy, 15-150 cm tall.

Leaves— subsessile, linear-lanceolate or lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous, 10-30 cm long.

Flowers— shoot upto 15 cm long, clothed with sheaths; bracts -2-5 cm x 2 cm, light green; corolla tube light yellow, lip orbicular, dull purple with creamy blotches.

Flowering and fruiting during July-September

Habitat  & Distribution :

All over India, Srilanka, Nepal

Chemical composition :

geranial and neral; and sesquiterpenes, beta-sesquiphellandrene, betabisabolene,

ar-curcumene and alphazingiberene, gingerols, shogaols, curcumene, beta-boürbornene, d-borneal, citral, d-camphene, citronellol, geraniol, gingerol, a- & beta- Zingiberenes, zingiberol, zingerone, gingerols, paradol, gingerenone A, ginger glycolipids A, B, & C; gingerdiol; gingerone B & C

Properties :

Rasa :  Katu

Guna :  Guru Ruksa, Tiksna

Virya :  Usna

Vipãka :  Madhura

 Karma : Vãta-kaphahara, Dipana, Bhedana,pachana, vrisya, balya, rochana, sophahara, jwaraghna

antiemetic, antiflatulent, hypocholesterolaemic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, expectorant, laxative,circulatory stimulant, diaphoretic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic, hypotensive and hepatoprotective.

Gingerol and shogaol have been shown to suppress gastric contractions. Both fresh and dried rhizomes suppress gastric secretion and reduce vomiting

Indications :

Sula, Amavãta, Adhmãna, Atisãra, slipada, Kãsa, svãsa, Hrdroga, sopha, Arsas, Hikkã, Vibandha, Raktapitta, Pãndu, Vrana, Jvara. Kustha, Agnimãndya

Irritable bowel , diarrhoea, fever,cough, asthma,flatulence,colic, colds ,influenza,migraine, nausea, vomiting

Part used :

Rhizome (raw and dry)

Dosage :

Powder 2-4 g

Decoction 50-100 ml

Important Yoga’s  or  Formulations :

Ardraka rasayana, Ardraka Khaãvalehya, Nagaradi Kasaya,Ardraka ghrta, Ardraka Khanda, Soubhaya Suñti, Samasarkarã churna

Amayika Prayoga(Therapeutic Uses)  :

(1) Pratisyaya— Ardraka is given with milk (S.S.Ut. 24).

(2) Kaphaja Arsas— Ardraka and Kulastha are used (S.S.Ci.6)

(3) Murcha— Ardraka svarasa is used as Nasya (B.P.).

IUCN Status 

Not Evaluated (widely cultivated). 

Research Updates (Past 5 Years)

1. *2020:* Anti-inflammatory effects of gingerol in arthritis (Journal of Ethnopharmacology). 

2. *2021:* Efficacy in chemotherapy-induced nausea (NCBI Study). 

3. *2022:* Gastroprotective action against ulcers (Ayurveda Journal).