6-Gingerol is the most Potent Anticancerous Compound in Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.)

Abstract

Cancer is one of the most deadly diseases in the world, which is caused due to uncontrolled growth of cells or malfunction of genes that control normal cell growth and division. Because of high death rate associated with cancer and because of serious side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, many cancer patients seek alternative complementary methods of treatment. Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) is an important spice crop with immense medicinal properties and health beneficial effects. All the ginger ligands showed good interaction with the selected targets but based on ADME/Toxicity analysis 6-gingerol was superior with respect to absorption, solubility, and less neurotoxic effect as compared to other ginger ligands. 6-gingerol was also found cytotoxic to all the three cancer cells lines were studied. The cytotoxicity increased with increase in concentration of 6-gingerol. The IC50 values recorded for different cancer cell lines, 24 h. after treatment (100 µM for HCT15, 102 µM for L929 and 102 µM for Raw 264.7) showed uniform cytotoxicity in the three cell lines studied. The study highlights the potential of 6-gingerol for drug development against cancer.