Specialists of the Institute of Biology of Food Systems. Leibniz at the Technical University of Munich proved the benefits of ginger for immunity: a certain substance was able to activate the body's immune cells. The results of the work are published in the journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research.

In laboratory tests, a small amount of the pungent substance gingerol, isolated from ginger, was applied to cell cultures, and then the reaction was observed. It is this compound that is known to cause a sense of sharpness, read by the TRPV1 receptor located on the surface of nerve cells.

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The first step was to identify the receptor on neutrophilic granulocytes, which are important elements of the immune system. These cells make up about two-thirds of white blood cells and are essential for fighting off external pathogens.

The second stage consisted of introducing various concentrations of gingerol solution onto the cell surface. It turned out that even 15 micrograms of a substance per liter is enough to put immune cells on high alert. The exposed cells responded 30 percent more strongly to the bacterial infection-mimicking peptide than the cells in the control group. At the same time, in the experiment on the introduction of a TRPV1 receptor blocker, the effect caused by gingerol stopped.

The authors concluded that even very low concentrations of gingerol can have an activating effect on the body's immune cells. In the blood, these concentrations could theoretically be achieved by drinking about one liter of ginger tea, scientists say.