Update on the Chemopreventive Effects of Ginger and its Phytochemicals

Abstract

The rhizomes of Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Zingiberaceae), commonly known as ginger, is one of the most widely used spice and condiment. It is also an integral part of many traditional medicines and has been extensively used in Chinese, Ayurvedic, Tibb-Unani, Srilankan, Arabic, and African traditional medicines, since antiquity, for many unrelated human ailments including common colds, fever, sore throats, vomiting, motion sickness, gastrointestinal complications, indigestion, constipation, arthritis, rheumatism, sprains, muscular aches, pains, cramps, hypertension, dementia, fever, infectious diseases, and helminthiasis. The putative active compounds are nonvolatile pungent principles, namely gingerols, shogaols, paradols, and zingerone. These compounds are some of the extensively studied phytochemicals and account for the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiemetic, and gastroprotective activities. A number of preclinical investigations with a wide variety of assay systems and carcinogens have shown that ginger and its compounds possess chemopreventive and antineoplastic effects. A number of mechanisms have been observed to be involved in the chemopreventive effects of ginger. The cancer preventive activities of ginger are supposed to be mainly due to free radical scavenging, antioxidant pathways, alteration of gene expressions, and induction of apoptosis, all of which contribute towards decrease in tumor initiation, promotion, and progression. This review provides concise information from preclinical studies with both cell culture models and relevant animal studies by focusing on the mechanisms responsible for the chemopreventive action. The conclusion describes directions for future research to establish its activity and utility as a human cancer preventive and therapeutic drug. The above-mentioned mechanisms of ginger seem to be promising for cancer prevention; however, further clinical studies are warranted to assess the efficacy and safety of ginger.

Ginger Protects the Liver against the Toxic Effects of Xenobiotic Compounds: Preclinical Observations

“…Mechanistically, the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases is proposed to be mediated by the enhanced expressions of TNF-α, NFκb, i-NOS and COX-2, and increased generation of proinflammatory eisonaoids and nitric oxide [1,48]. Ginger is shown to inhibit the enzymes required for synthesis of prostaglandins and leukotrienes, namely, cyclooxygenase and lipooxygenase respectively [47,49].…”

“…Ginger, the rhizomes of the plant Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Family Zingiberaceae), is arguably one of the most widely used culinary agent and spice in the world [1,2]. In addition to its culinary use, ginger also possess medicinal properties, and has been used since antiquity to treat ailments like cold, headaches, nausea, stomach upset, diarrhea, digestive, gastrointestinal disturbances, rheumatic complaints, diarrhea, nausea, asthma and parasitic infections, arthritis and muscular discomfort in the various alternative and folk systems of medicine in the world [1][2][3][4][5][6][7].…”

“…, β-phellandrene, curcumene, cineole, geranyl acetate, terphineol, terpenes, borneol, geraniol, limonene, β-elemene, zingiberol, linalool, α-zingiberene, β-sesquiphellandrene, β-bisabolene, zingiberenol and α-farmesene [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. Scientific studies carried out in accordance to the principles of modern system of medicine have convincingly shown that ginger possesses numerous health benefits like antimicrobial, antiviral, gastroprotective, antidiabetic, anti-hypertensive, cardioprotective, anticancer, chemopreventive and immunomodulatory effects [1,4].…”

“…Scientific studies carried out in accordance to the principles of modern system of medicine have convincingly shown that ginger possesses numerous health benefits like antimicrobial, antiviral, gastroprotective, antidiabetic, anti-hypertensive, cardioprotective, anticancer, chemopreventive and immunomodulatory effects [1,4]. Additionally, preclinical studies carried out with laboratory animals have also shown that ginger to possess hepatoprotective effects, and to protect the liver against the toxic effects of diverse class of xenobiotic agents like alcohol [8,9], country liquor [10], acetaminophen [11], heavy metals [12,13], CCl 4 [14], paraben [15] and bromobenzene [16].…”

Determination of in vitro antidiabetic effects of Zingiber officinale Roscoe

“…Zingiber officinale (ginger) rhizome is one of the classic examples of an herb used for not only culinary preparations but also for unique therapeutic significance owing to its antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and chemoprotective potential (Afzal et al, 2001;El-Ghorab et al, 2010;Ghasemzadeh et al, 2010;Rani et al, 2011;Al-Suhaimi et al, 2011;Baliga et al, 2011;Butt, Sultan, 2011;Rehman et al, 2011). Although several studies have mentioned antidiabetic activity of Zingiber officinale (Grover et al, 2002;Akhani et al, 2005;Kelble, 2005;Al-Amin et al, 2006;Büyükbalci, Sedef, 2008;Islam, Choi, 2008;Abd-Elraheem et al, 2009;Saraswat et al, 2009;Ogbera et al, 2010;Saraswat et al, 2010;Madkor et al, 2011;Ramudu et al, 2011;Rani et al, 2011), no data is available on protein glycation and glucose absorption inhibitory potential of native Zingiber officinale rhizomes at national level.…”