Fouzia et el Journal of Drug Delivery & Therapeutics. 2019; 9(4-s):721-725 ISSN: 2250-1177 [721] CODEN (USA): JDDTAO Available online on 20.08.2019 at http://jddtonline.info Journal of Drug Delivery and Therapeutics Open Access to Pharmaceutical and Medical Research © 2011-18, publisher and licensee JDDT, This is an Open Access article which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, provided the original work is properly cited Open Access Review Article Zanjabeel (Zingiber offcinale) Transformation of Culinary Spice to a multi- functional Medicine *Fouzia Bashir and Zeba Afrin Research Associate, Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine, M/o AYUSH, New Delhi ABSTRACT The various traditional systems such as Unani, Ayurveda and Siddha use several plant species to treat different ailments. The Unani (Greco- Arab) system of medicine has been practiced since ancient times for the treatment of range of diseases. Traditional medicine usually takes a “holistic” approach where the physical, spiritual (which includes mental), and most often social well -being of an individual are treated. Thus, the medicinal value of an herbal product may be intimately related to its nutritional and psychological aspects. It is estimated that between 70% and 95% of citizens in a majority of developing countries use traditional medicine for the management of health and as primary health care to address their health-care needs and concerns. Medicinal plants play an important role in the development of potent therapeutic agents. Zanjabeel (Zingiber officinale) is a very famous herbal drug which is widely used in world as spice as well as drug in traditional medicine. This article aims at reviewing the Zanjabeel on the basis of description in Unani system of medicine, its Pharmacological actions and therapeutic uses and to discuss scientific studies. Keywords: Zanjabeel, Unani, Pharmacological actions, therapeutic uses. Article Info: Received 13 June 2019; Review Completed 28 July 2019; Accepted 09 August 2019; Available online 20 August 2019 Cite this article as: Bashir B, Afrin Z, Zanjabeel (Zingiber offcinale) Transformation of Culinary Spice to a multi-functional Medicine, Journal of Drug Delivery and Therapeutics. 2019; 9(4-s):721-725 http://dx.doi.org/10.22270/jddt.v9i4-s.3299 *Address for Correspondence: Fouzia Bashir, Research Associate, Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine, M/o AYUSH, New Delhi INTRODUCTION Zanjabeel (Zingiber officinale) is an important drug in Unani system of medicine and a culinary spice widely used all over the world. It consists of whole or cut, dried scrapped or unscrapped rhizomes of Zingiber officinale Rosc.of Zingiberaceae family [Kokate. 2009; Anonymous, 2007]. Rhizomes are aromatic, thick lobed, pale-yellowish, differing in size and shape in different cultivated types. India is the largest producer of Zanjabeel, accounting for 50% of the total world production [Anonymous, 2003]. Cochin ginger in the world market is considered next best to Jamaica [Purohit, 2008].Rhizome is highly esteemed as a spice for its characteristic odour and pungent taste and widely used for flavouring foods, for extraction of oleoresins, preparation of extracts and distillation of an essential oil of Zanjabeel [Anonymous, 2006].It is well known drug and spice which is widely used in Unani system of medicine as a single drug and as an ingredient in various Unani formulations to treat a number of diverse pathological conditions. SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION [Khare, 2007; Joy, 1980] Kingdom : Plantae Subkingdom : Tracheobionata Division : Magnoliophyta Class : Liopsida Sub Class : Zingiberidae Order : Zingiberales Family : Zingibraceae Genus : Zingiber Species : officinale