Antihypertensive Effect of Gingerol Extract from Red Ginger (Zingiber officinale var

rubrum) from Indonesia in Male Wistar Rats (Rattus norvegicus) Induced Hypertension

Bella Ardhilia Damayanti, Rochmadina Suci Bestari, Riski Ima Rahmawati, Nur Fadhilah,
Em Sutrisna
Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta, Indonesia.
Correspondence: Bella Ardhilia Damayanti email: J500140072@student.ums.ac.id

ABSTRACT
Gingerol is one of the chemical compounds in Red Ginger (Zingiber officinale var rubrum)
which is, at low concentrations, it has antihypertensive effects. Red ginger has
antihypertensive effect through calcium channel blockade mechanism. This study aims to
analysing antihypertensive effects of gingerol extract and the optimal concentration in male
wistar rats induced hypertension.This research was an experimental research with pretest-
posttest control group design. The samples were 30 male wistar rats induced hypertension
with Prednisone and NaCl for 7 days, divided into 5 groups. H1 (normal group); H2 (negative
control), H3,H4;H5 given extracts with each concentrations (36 mg, 72mg, 108mg). Blood
pressure measurement performed through day-0, day-8, and day-14. There is difference
between the blood pressure given Gingerol Extract of Red Ginger (Zingiber officinale var
rubrum) in 36mg/200grBB concentration compared to negative control with p value <0.05 by
Anova test then Post Hoc LSD. Gingerol Extract of Red Ginger (Zingiber officinale var
rubrum) has antihypertensive effect with the optimal concentration is 36mg/200grBB.

Keyword: Gingerol, Antihypertension, Zingiber officinale var rubrum

Introduction
Hypertension is a common disorder and a
leading cause of morbidity and mortality
worldwide[1]. The numbers of people
affected and the prevalence of high blood
pressure worldwide are expected to increase
over the next decade. Therefore, preventive
strategies are therefore urgently needed,
especially in less developed countries, and
management of hypertension must be
optimized[2]. In Indonesia, hypertension is a
serious health problem considering its high
prevalence, which is about 25.8% according
to Riskesdas data in 2013. Hypertension is
an increase blood pressure that lasts for a
long time (persistent) and can cause
complications in the kidney (kidney failure),
heart (coronary heart disease), and brain
(stroke) if it wasn’t detected early and get
adequate treatment[3]. Awareness of
hypertensive patients to control blood
pressure and treatment disposed to be low[4].
It is because hypertension give less
symptoms[5] or asymptomatic, except when
hypertension being severe or happens in a
long time[6].
Major pathophysiologic mechanisms of
hypertension include activation of the
sympathetic nervous system and renin–
angiotensin–aldosteronesystem. Endothelial
dysfunction, increased vascular reactivity,
and vascular remodeling may be causes,
rather than consequences,of blood pressure
elevation; increased vascular stiffness
contributesto isolated systolic hypertension
in the elderly[7]. The treatments involve
lifestyle changes and drugs, including
diuretics, β - blockers, ACE inhibitors,
angiotensin II receptor blockers, and Ca
channel blockers[6]. Antihypertensive agents
has several side effects on cognitive function
and sexual activity [8].
Ginger or Zingiber officinale roscoe
(family:Zingiberaceae)[9] is one of plants
widely consumed in the world[10]. Ginger
first cultivated in Asia and has been used as
a medicinal plant for 2000 years [11]. In
Indonesia, the largest production of ginger is
in Central Java Province (21.78%) of the
total production in a year[12]. Ginger contains
several phytochemical and active biological
compounds such as phenolic, flavonoids, 6-
gingerol, 6-shogaol, and zingerone [13].
Red Ginger is one of Zingiber officinale
roscoe diversity[14], The content of gingerol
in red ginger (Zingiber officinale var
rubrum) is higher than others ginger [15][16].
Some compounds, including gingerol,
shogaol and zingerone provide
pharmacological and physiological activities
such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory,
analgesic, anti-carcinogenic and cardio tonic
effects[17]. Gingerol at low concentrations can
reduce blood pressure[18]. The largest
gingerol extraction process was obtained by
using n-hexane solvent[19]. In previous study
it is known that ginger can reduce blood
pressure through blockade of calcium
channel mechanism[20]. The aim of the study
was analyze the antihypertensive effect and
the optimal concentration of gingerol extract
on antihypertensive activity in male wistar
rats (Rattus norvegicus) induced
hypertension.
Materials and Methods
Study Design
The type of this research is true
experimental laboratories with random
sampling and pretest-posttest control group
design.
Materials
Gingerol extract was obtained from Red
Ginger (Zingiber officinale var rubrum) in
Menoreh, Kulonprogo, Yogyakarta,
Indonesia which was dried and extracted
using n-hexane solvent by maceration
method.
The extraction process starts from
washing the fresh ginger rhizome, slicing it,
and drying it using oven at 35oC, then blend
the ginger with blender, sieve it, then
dissolved dried ginger in n-hexane, filtered
the extract then the filtrate evaporated using
evaporator at room temperature.
Results and Discussion
Result
In the process of extraction gingerol from
Red Ginger (Zingiber officinale var rubrum),
we obtained 11 grams extract from 3 Kg
fresh ginger. Gingerol extract can be seen in
figure 1.

Animal Experiment
The 30 male wistar rats (Rattus
norvegicus) with a weight of 100-200gram
aged 2-3 months were divided into 5 groups
in table 1. Figure 1. Gingerol extract of Red Ginger
Table 1. Groups study. (Zingiber officinale var rubrum)
H1 Normal No intervention
H2 Negative control Aqua bides Measurement of blood pressure in male
Gingerol extract wistar rats can be seen in figure 2.
H3 Extract 1
concentration 36mg
Gingerol extract
H4 Extract 2
concentration 72mg
Gingerol extract
H5 Extract 3
concentration108mg

Each group induced by hypertension agents

using prednisone 1.5mg and 2.5% NaCl for 7
days. Then given extract in each group for
the next 7 days. Figure 2. Blood pressure measurement using
CODATM Kent Scientific Corporation
Blood Pressure Measurement
Blood pressure measurements held on days-
All rats measured blood pressure on day-
0, day-8, and day-14 can be seen in table 2.
0, day-8, and day-14 using a non invasive
blood pressure recorded CODATM Kent
Scientific Corporation.

Table 2. The blood pressure on hours 0, 8 and 14

Data Analyze
Blood Pressure data is presented as the
mean of each treatment group. Data were
analyzed using One Way Anova and
continued with Post Hoc LSD.
Kel h-0 h-8 h-14
SBP DBP SBP DBP SBP DBP
H1 124 97 126 98 119 84
H2 142 111 144 97 165 132
H3 131 98 148 112 120 89
H4 124 100 135 101 131 101
H5 144 111 147 111 160 130
Note: SBP: sistolic blood presurre, DBP:
Diastolic blood pressure

From analysis using One Way Anova p arterioles vasoconstriction so the

value is 0.034 (p <0.05) at systolic blood enhancement of blood pressure can be
pressure and p value is 0.04 (p <0.05) at inhibited [23].
diastolic blood pressure. It shows that there In previous study, antihypertensive effect
is a difference in blood pressure after giving was performed on all phytochemical
of gingerol extract in hypertensive rats (table compounds and active ingredients of
3 and table 4). ginger[24], while in this study is a specific to
Sum of Mean analyze the effectiveness of gingerol. This is
Squares Df Square F Sig.
Between 6642.22 4 1660.55 3.728 .034
based on a previous study which states that
Groups 5 6 gingerol at low concentrations has a
Within 5344.71 12 445.393 hypotensive effect[18].
Groups 7 After analysing, gingerol extract of Red
Total 11986.9 16 Ginger (Zingiber officinale var rubrum) has
41
an antihypertensive effect compared with
Table. 3 data analyze of sistolic blood pressure negative control. According to LSD Post
Hoc analysis, the extract treatment group
Sum of Mean with concentration of 36mg/200grBB had a
Squares Df Square F Sig.
significant antihypertensive effect with p
Between 6754.03 4 1688.50 3.534 .040
Groups 5 9 value <0.013 at systolic and p value <0.019
Within 5734.20 12 477.850 at diastolic pressure compared to the group
Groups 0 with 76mg/200grBB extract concentration.
Total 12488.2 16 While at concentrations of 108 mg/200grBB,
35 gingerol already had no antihypertensive
Table. 4 data analyze of diastolic blood pressure effect. It shows that the maximum gingerol
concentration in red ginger to give an
Discussion antihypertensive effect was ± 76 mg /
The antihypertensive effect of gingerol 200grBB. In the other words, gingerol has an
extract of Red Ginger (Zingiber officinale antihypertensive effect only at low
var rubrum) are linear with previous studies concentration [25][26].
which suggest that ginger has anti- Based on the data above, it is known that
hypertensive effects through Ca2+ channel the optimal concentration of gingerol extract
blockade mechanism [20][21][22]. Ca2+ channel in red ginger (Zingiber officinale var
blockade causes prevention of rubrum) which can decrease blood pressure
in hypertensive male wistar rats is
36mg/200grBB.
Conclusion
The gingerol extract of red ginger
(Zingiber officinale var rubrum) has
antihypertensive effect with the optimal
concentration is 36mg/200grBB.
acknowledgements
We would like to Thank to the Ministry of
Research, Technology and Higher Education
of the Republic of Indonesia who has funded
this research.
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