The Potential of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) as a Replacement for Tobacco in Cigarettes

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Cigarette smoking is a practice all around the world. Other plants have been used too, but tobacco is the most popular. Tobacco cigarettes are also addictive and a leading cause of lung cancer. The researchers thought that ginger, a spice mainly used in Asian countries may be a viable substitute, since ginger has the ability to help alleviate inflammation, has anti-oxidant properties and it helps to fight cancer due to having shogaol compound when dried.

METHODS

In making a cigarette stick, a whole piece of ginger was chopped into smaller pieces. Next, the pieces were sun-dried. Then a rolling paper was laid flat. Then, the dried ginger was placed onto the paper with a filter inserted at the end and rolled up. Lastly, wet the adhesive part to seal it. Five smokers were randomly chosen as the respondents and a rating scale was used to test the odor and taste of the product. The burn time is tested using a stopwatch and the smoke residue was tested using an improvised tester and compared to the commercial cigarette. The shelf life was tested by storage and observation. Also, the cost was evaluated.

RESULTS

Results:

The testing for the odor and the taste of the ginger cigarette doesn't receive negative results from the smokers or the respondents. For the burn time, the average time of the ginger cigarette does not last too long but it is still comparable to the commercial cigarette. The smoke residue test resulted to a lesser residue of the ginger cigarette than the tobacco cigarette. It was determined that the ginger cigarette becomes stale after three weeks. The cost is the same as the cost of the commercial ones.

DISCUSSIONS

Based on the data, ginger tastes and smell good when used as a cigarette. Because the ginger cigarette has lesser burn time than a tobacco cigarette, it is recommended that a machine is used for making the product. In addition, it is recommended that a lab test be conducted for the smoke residue. Since the ginger cigarette has lesser residue, it is healthier to consume. Lastly, the cost of ginger cigarette is the same as the commercial ones so consumers can change what the cigarette they use without thinking the cost.