Abstract
We investigated the effects of systemic administrations of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Zingiberaceae) and its pungent constituent, [6]-gingerol, on resting body temperature in rats. Rats given ginger-containing rat chow showed no change in day-night cycles of their body temperature and physical activity. However, a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of one of two doses of [6]-gingerol (2.5 or 25 mg/kg) induced a rapid, marked drop in body temperature in a dose-related manner, with no change in physical activity. The significant decreases in metabolic rate was observed immediately after an i.p. injection of [6]-gingerol (25 mg/kg), while heat-loss response underwent no alteration, suggesting that the decrease in metabolic rate is responsible for the [6]-gingerol-induced hypothermia. Thus, [6]-gingerol modulates or interferes with the mechanisms underlying body temperature regulation, while other bioactive constituents of ginger might prevent the [6]-gingerol-induced hypothermia in rats. [J Physiol Sci. 2008;58 Suppl:S101]
