Effect of a Ginger Infusion in Smokers with Reduced Salivary Flow Rate

Background: Zingiber officinale Roscoe (ginger) is a spice widely used and has been suggested to act beneficially on salivary secretion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ingestion of a ginger infusionin the salivary flow rate of smokers with reduced salivary secretion. Subjects and Methods: After review board and Ethic Committee of the State approval, sixteen smokers with reduced salivary flow were assigned in an auto-controlled study. The intervention consisted in the ingestion of a 250 mL ginger infusion with 0.5 g, three times a day for 28 days. Non-stimulated (Qns) and stimulated (Qss) saliva collection was performed by sialometry before and after the ingestion of the ginger infusion.A survey was used to collect age and smoking habits information. Chemical analysis was performed, in the ginger infusion, to quantify the total phenolic content (TFC) by Folin Ciocalteu method and antioxidant activity (AA) by ABTS•+ and O2•− methods. The paired samples t-Student’s test and Spearman's correlation coefficient were used, at a significance level of 5%. Results: A statistically significant increase (p