shogaol and Neoplasms

Conjugated α,β-unsaturated ketones are very useful compounds associated with diverse medicinal properties. This review outlines α,β-unsaturated ketones as candidate cytotoxic agents which affect mitochondrial function. Both naturally occurring compounds and synthetic chemicals have been discussed which exert their cytotoxic effects, at least in part, by acting on mitochondria. Biochemical differences between tumour mitochondria and this organelle in non-malignant cells have been exploited to investigate various compounds that can cause greater toxicity to neoplasms than normal cells. On a number of instances, correlations between the structures of various α,β-unsaturated ketones and cytotoxic potencies have been observed. The aspiration is that this review will assist drug designers to create compounds which are significantly more toxic to neoplasms than normal tissues.

Topics: Animals; Humans; Ketones; Mitochondria; Neoplasms

Numerous studies have been performed in understanding the development of cancer. Though, the mechanism of action of genes in the development of cancer remains to be explained. The current mode of treatment of cancer shows adverse effects on normal cells and also alter the cell signalling pathways. However, ginger and its active compound have fascinated research based on animal model and laboratories during the past decade due to its potentiality in killing cancer cells. Ginger is a mixture of various compounds including gingerol, paradol, zingiberene and shogaol and such compounds are the main players in diseases management. Most of the health-promoting effects of ginger and its active compound can be attributed due to its antioxidant and anti-tumour activity. Besides, the active compound of ginger has proven its role in cancer management through its modulatory effect on tumour suppressor genes, cell cycle, apoptosis, transcription factors, angiogenesis and growth factor. In this review, the role of ginger and its active compound in the inhibition of cancer growth through modulating cell signalling pathways will be reviewed and discussed.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Apoptosis; Catechols; Cell Cycle; Fatty Alcohols; Humans; Neoplasms; Plant Extracts; Signal Transduction; Zingiber officinale

Ginger is a commonly used spice and herbal medicine worldwide. Besides its extensive use as a condiment, ginger has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for the management of various medical conditions. In recent years, ginger has received wide attention due to its observed antiemetic and anticancer activities. This paper reviews the potential role of ginger and its active constituents in cancer chemoprevention. The phytochemistry, bioactivity, and molecular targets of ginger constituents, especially 6-shogaol, are discussed. The content of 6-shogaol is very low in fresh ginger, but significantly higher after steaming. With reported anti-cancer activities, 6-shogaol can be served as a lead compound for new drug discovery. The lead compound derivative synthesis, bioactivity evaluation, and computational docking provide a promising opportunity to identify novel anticancer compounds originating from ginger.

Topics: Antiemetics; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Catechols; Chemoprevention; Curcuma; Curcumin; Drug Discovery; Humans; Neoplasms; Steam; Structure-Activity Relationship; Zingiber officinale

Recently, a wide range of food-derived phytochemical compounds and their synthetic derivatives have been proposed for cancer treatment. Unfortunately, data available in related literature focus on the anti-cancer properties of compounds derived from edible plants, while very little is known about those derived from non-edible plants. And thus, the underlying mechanisms of their anti-cancer effects are yet to be elucidated. This review collates the available data on the anti-cancer activities of six phytochemical-derived compounds from edible and non-edible plants, i.e. rottlerin, berbamine, sparstolonin B, sulforaphane, plumbagin and 6-shogaol. These compounds are used as bioactive markers for cytotoxicity against tumors. As such, understanding their mode of action will provide the rationale for the combination strategies of these compounds with other drugs in the battle against cancer.

Topics: Acetophenones; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Benzopyrans; Benzylisoquinolines; Catechols; Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings; Humans; Isothiocyanates; Naphthoquinones; Neoplasms; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Signal Transduction; Sulfoxides

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.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Anticarcinogenic Agents; Antiemetics; Antioxidants; Apoptosis; Carcinogens; Catechols; Cell Cycle; Cell Line, Tumor; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Fatty Alcohols; Guaiacol; Humans; Lipid Peroxidation; Neoplasms; Plant Extracts; Protein Carbonylation; Rhizome; Signal Transduction; Spices; Transcription Factors; Zingiber officinale

Investigation of the MeOH extract of Chaenomeles sinensis twigs resulted in the isolation of seven biphenyl compounds (1-7) including a new compound, chaenomin (1). The chemical structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by extensive NMR data ((1)H and (13)C NMR, (1)H-(1)H COSY, HSQC and HMBC), specific optical rotation, and chemical reaction. Compounds 2 and 6 showed potent cytotoxic activities against four cancer cell lines (A549, SK-OV-3, SK-MEL-2, and HCT15), and compound 7 exhibited potent anti-neuroinflammatory and NGF-potentiating activity.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Biphenyl Compounds; Cell Line; Cell Line, Tumor; Humans; Mice; Microglia; Neoplasms; Nerve Growth Factor; Nitric Oxide; Rosaceae

Twenty-nine phenolic compounds were isolated from the root bark of fresh (Yunnan) ginger and their structures fully characterized. Selected compounds were divided into structural categories and twelve compounds subjected to in-vitro assays including DPPH radical scavenging, xanthine-oxidase inhibition, monoamine oxidase inhibition, rat-brain homogenate lipid peroxidation, and rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cell and primary liver cell viability to determine their antioxidant and cytoprotective properties. Isolated compounds were also tested against nine human tumor cell lines to characterize anticancer potency. Several diarylheptanoids and epoxidic diarylheptanoids were effective DPPH radical scavengers and moderately effective at inhibiting xanthine oxidase. An enone-dione analog of 6-shogaol (compound 2) was isolated and identified to be most effective at protecting PC12 cells from H₂O₂-induced damage. Almost all tested compounds inhibited lipid peroxidation. Three compounds, 6-shogaol, 10-gingerol and an enone-diarylheptanoid analog of curcumin (compound 6) were identified to be cytotoxic in cell lines tested, with KB and HL60 cells most susceptible to 6-shogaol and the curcumin analog with IC₅₀<10 μM. QSAR analysis revealed cytotoxicity was related to compound lipophilicity and chemical reactivity. In conclusion, we observed distinct compounds in fresh ginger to have biological activities relevant in diseases associated with reactive oxygen species.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Antioxidants; Biphenyl Compounds; Catechols; Curcumin; Cytoprotection; Fatty Alcohols; HL-60 Cells; Humans; Hydrogen Peroxide; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; KB Cells; Lipid Peroxidation; Neoplasms; PC12 Cells; Phenols; Phytotherapy; Picrates; Plant Bark; Plant Extracts; Plant Roots; Rats; Xanthine Oxidase; Zingiber officinale