Chemical Composition and Skin Protective Effects of Essential Oil Obtained from Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe)

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the chemical composition and skin protective effects of essential oil from ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe), a traditional Chinese medicine, spice, and food. Essential oil was extracted from ginger by hydrodistillation. Forty-three compounds were identified in ginger essential oil (GEO) by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. GEO comprised α-zingiberene (26.00 %), β-sesquiphyllandrene (8.10 %), α-curcumene (7.99 %), α-bergamotene (7.99 %), β-bisabolene (7.47 %), and ar-turmerone (3.86 %). Skin damage induced by eight-week Ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation, including erythema, wrinkles, and skin inflammation in nude mice. GEO treatment at three different concentrations ameliorated UVB-induced skin inflammation and inhibited interleukin-1β and tumour necrosis factor-α expression in skin tissues. Therefore, GEO adequately protected the skin from UVB irradiation and photoaging.

Key words:

• Ginger
• essential oils
• nude mice
• UVB
• anti-wrinkle