An ethanol extract of dry ginger may help Alzheimer's disease, a new study suggests.  The extract contains 18 mg gallic acid per gram of extract, which is equivalent to 4.18 quercetin per gram of dry ginger.  The extract displayed a high antioxidant activity with an IC50 value at 70 microg /mL. The extract increased cell survival against the toxicity induced by amyloid beta, which is considered the cause of Alzheimer's disease, in primary adult rat hippocampal cell culture. The ginger extract also prevented the formation of Abeta oligomers effectively.  All together, the study suggests that dry ginger extract may help prevent Alzheimer's disease.  (David Liu)Mathew M, Subramanian S., In vitro evaluation of anti-Alzheimer effects of dry ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) extract. Indian J Exp Biol. 2014 Jun;52(6):606-12.