Page 53 - 2025中醫藥與天然藥物聯合學術研討會-中醫藥與天然藥物的挑戰Ｘ機遇與未來大會手冊

Development of a Quality Standard for Herbal Medicine of Zingiber

zerumbet Rhizome

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Lih-Geeng Chen, Muhammad Riki Shindi Praristiya, Wei-Hsuan Su, Che Chun Lin,
and Ching-Chiung Wang* ,2,3,4

1 Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biopharmaceuticals, College of Life Sciences,
National Chiayi University
2 PhD Program in Clinical Drug Development of Herbal Medicine, College of Pharmacy, Taipei
Medical University, Taipei
3 Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University
4 School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University
* E-mail: crystal@tmu.edu.tw

Abstract

The rhizome of Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Smith, a common medicinal plant in Taiwan, has
traditionally been used as a food additive with blood-activating and analgesic properties. Recent
studies have confirmed its anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, and neuroprotective effects. To
ensure consistent efficacy, this study established a quality control standard for Z. zerumbet

decoction pieces, using osteoarthritis as a pharmacological indicator. Major constituents were
extracted by steam distillation and analyzed by GC-MS, followed by network pharmacology
and nitric oxide (NO) inhibition assays, which identified zerumbone and 3-O-
methylkaempferol as principal bioactive compounds. Zerumbone exhibited potent NO-

suppressing activity, and commercial sample analysis revealed the absence of 3-O-
methylkaempferol in some products, leading to the selection of zerumbone as the primary
quality marker. Evaluation of fresh rhizomes harvested after cultivation for 8 months and 3
years for every month indicated no significant influence of cultivation duration on zerumbone

content, but clear seasonal variation, with post-autumn harvests yielding the highest levels (>25
mg/g). Based on Taiwan Pharmacopoeia guidelines and Q test validation, it is recommended
that rhizomes be harvested after one year of cultivation in the following autumn, with a
minimum zerumbone content of 17.0 mg/g in decoction pieces. The efficacy of standardized

rhizome powder was further confirmed in a collagenase-induced rat osteoarthritis model,
demonstrating significant pain relief when appropriate zerumbone levels were present. This
study establishes zerumbone as a reliable quality marker and provides a practical framework
for the standardization of Z. zerumbet in herbal medicine.

Keywords: Zingiber zerumbet; Zerumbone; Quality standard; Quality standard

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