Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) Against Type 2 Diabetes: A Bioinformatic Approach

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a multifactorial disease characterized by insulin resistance and chronic low-grade inflammation. Although treatments are available, they are often ineffective and cause side effects in patients. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) has demonstrated antidiabetic potential; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying its bioactive compounds remain incompletely understood.

Compounds present in Ginger were obtained from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database. Targets for T2D were then obtained from the MalaCards and DisGeNET, and intersecting targets were identified using a Venn diagram. Targets for Ginger components were obtained from the SwissTargetPrediction and PharmMapper, and common targets were searched for. The ShinyGO0.80 database was used for gene ontology, and Cytoscape software was used for protein-protein interaction networks and compound-target-pathway analysis. Molecular docking was performed using AutoDock Vina and UCSF-Chimera software, and GROMACS for molecular dynamics.

Of 265 identified compounds, 27 met pharmacological and bioavailability criteria. A total of 27 overlapping targets between ginger and T2D were identified, with SHBG, ESR1, NR1H3, ESR2, and PPARA emerging as hub genes. Enrichment analyses highlighted insulin signaling, lipid metabolism, and inflammatory pathways. Docking results showed strong binding affinities, and three complexes were selected for molecular dynamics. Simulations and MM-PBSA analysis confirmed the stability of ESR1-C018, ESR2-C008, and SHBG-C010.

Ginger compounds exhibit multitarget potential in T2D by modulating insulin signaling, lipid metabolism, and inflammation; however, these findings are predictive and require experimental studies.

These findings provide insights into the multitarget mechanisms of Ginger, supporting its potential therapeutic role in T2D.