Zingiberaceae plants are important medicinal and edible resources, widely used in traditional diets and medicine. They combine nutritional value with diverse physiological regulatory functions, holding significant potential for future applications. This study focused on seven Zingiberaceae species listed in the National Health Commission’s inventory of traditional food and medicinal materials: Zingiber officinale (ginger, including fresh and dried forms), Alpinia oxyphylla, Amomum tsaoko, Curcuma longa, A. villosum, Kaempferia galanga, and Alpinia officinarum. A systematic literature review and industrial analysis were conducted to summarize their core functional components, pharmacological activities, and industrialization status. The results showed that these plants are generally rich in volatile oils, gingerols, curcumin, flavonoids, and polysaccharides, exhibiting bioactivities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, metabolic regulatory, neuroprotective, and potential antitumor effects. Furthermore, a comprehensive system for extracting and identifying these functional components and evaluating their bioactivities has been established. Analysis of the industrial chain revealed uneven development of Zingiberaceae resources, with common challenges including fragmented cultivation, extensive processing, lack of standardization, weak branding, and insufficient industry-academia-research collaboration. Corresponding recommendations were proposed: promoting whole-chain standardization, advancing deep processing and high-value product development, building collaborative innovation systems, and implementing branding and internationalization strategies. Future research should integrate advanced technologies like multi-omics to elucidate mechanisms of action and provide evidence-based support hrough high-quality clinical studies. Technological innovation will drive the development and layout of high-value products, facilitating the transformation of Zingiberaceae resources from a “resource advantage” into an “industrial advantage”, thereby contributing to the health industry and regional economic development.

Zingiberaceae  /  medicinal and edible homology  /  bioactive components  /  gingerols  /  curcumin  /  anti-inflammation  /  antioxidant  /  industrialization