Positive Health Online

Abstract

MIYOSHI and others, Laboratory of Food and Biodynamics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan, have found that the ginger constituents, galanals A and B, are powerful cell death inducers in human T lymphoma cells.

Background

This study investigated the effects of several chemicals isolated from edible ginger on human T lymphoma (a form of cancer of the white blood cells) Jurkat cells in culture.

Methodology

In vitro study using cultured cells. The compounds tested for their effects on cell proliferation included curcumin, 6-gingerol, and labdane-type diterpene compounds.

Results

Among the tested compounds, galanals A and B showed the most potent cytotoxic effect. The toxicity appears to be due to the induction of apoptosis, or programmed cell death, by the galanals via the mitochondrial damage pathway, as suggested by the observation of altered mitochondrial membrane potentials and cytochrome C release.

Conclusion

The study demonstrates that ginger components (other than the previously known curcuminoids) are potential anticancer agents.

References

Miyoshi N, Nakamura Y, Ueda Y, Abe M, Ozawa Y, Uchida K, Osawa T. Dietary ginger constituents, galanals A and B, are potent apoptosis inducers in Human T lymphoma Jurkat cells. Cancer Letters 199 (2): 113-119, Sep 2003.