Planta Med 2008; 74 - P-48
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1075244

Antioxidant, Chemopreventive and Antiproliferative Activities of Malaysian Zingiber officinale Variants

PM Rao 1, VD Nadarajah 1, HM Er 1, BC Yiap 1, MK Fee 1, LS Yi 1, TC Zhen 1, LS Ling 1, BWY Hong 1
  • 1International Medical University, Buktit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, 57000, Malaysia

Zingiber officinale (Ginger) is commonly consumed spice and has been used in traditional oriental medicines for centuries [1]. (6)-Gingerol is the major pungent constituent of ginger [2]. In this study, we evaluated the effect of three ethanol extracts of gingers (Halia bentong, Halia muda, and Halia bara) and compared their efficacy with that of pure (6)-gingerol for their antiproliferative effect on human breast cancer (MCF7) and colorectal cancer (HT29) cell lines using the MTT assay, antioxidant activity using ABTS.+− and DPPH assay systems, and chemopreventive activity using inhibition of cyp1A2 (cytochrome P4501A2) enzyme activity. Results showed that antiproliferative and chemopreventive activity of gingers were of the order: H.bara > H.muda > H.bentong, whereas antioxidant activities were: H.muda > H.bentong > H.bara. Statistical analysis showed that there was no significant difference in the activities of H.muda and H.bentong while H.bara's activity was different. This observation was supported by similar chemical composition of H.bentong and H.muda while that of H.bara is different as evidenced by UV, IR and GC analyses. (6)-Gingerol content in ethanol extracts of gingers was estimated using HPTLC. The antiproliferative and chemopreventive efficacy of these ginger extracts did not correlate with (6)-gingerol content suggesting the presence of other bioactive compounds in ginger extracts. This was further supported by the observation that pure (6)-gingerol's IC50 against MCF7 and HT29 cells was > 150 µM. Antioxidant activity of these extracts, however, correlates with (6)-gingerol content. Quantification of volatile oil content in these extracts was of the order: H.bentong > H.muda > H.bara, suggesting that even volatile oil's role in gingers' antiproliferative, chemopreventive and antioxidant activities is not significant. Therefore, identification and quantification of the actual bioactive compounds are required. References: [1] Bartley J, Jacobs A (2000) Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 80: 209–215. [2] Shukla Y, Singh M (2007) Food and Chemical Toxicology 45: 683–690.