Antiemetic effect of ginger in gynecologic oncology patients receiving cisplatin

Abstract

To determine whether ginger had antiemetic effect in cisplatin-induced emesis, we conducted a randomized, double-blinded crossover study in 48 gynecologic cancer patients receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Subjects were randomly allocated to regimen A or regimen B in their first cycle of the study. All patients received standard antiemetics in the first day of cisplatin administration. In regimen A, capsules of ginger root powder were given orally 1 g /day for 5 days, starting on the first day of chemotherapy. In regimen B, placebo was given on the first day and metoclopramide was given orally thereafter for 4 days. The patients were then crossed over to receive the other antiemetic regimen in their next cycle of chemotherapy. Among 43 evaluable patients who received both cycles of treatment, success in controls of nausea and emesis were not significantly different between the two regimens in both acute and delayed phases. Restlessness, as a side effect, occurred more often in metoclopramide arm compared to ginger arm (P=0.109). In conclusion, addition of ginger to standard antiemetic regimen has no advantage in reducing nausea or vomiting in acute phase of cisplatin-induced emesis. In delayed phase, ginger and metoclopramide have no statistically significant difference in efficacy.

Ayurveda and Plant-based Interventions for Cancer Management

“…11 studies, with one prophylactic study, and studies about malignant wound (1), burn cases (1), radiation-induced burns in breast cancer patients (1), and cancer treatmentinduced neutropenia (2). Honey was used as local application in most of the studies (14) for oral mucositis either alone or in combination with turmeric/coffee/olive oil, propolis, beewax). It was compared with various other established treatment drugs other than placebo (2), like normal saline (2), lignocaine (1), betamethasone solution (1 honey + coffee), or silver-coated bandages (2).…”

Dietary Supplement Use in Cancer Care: Help or Harm

“…An early trial suggested that ginger could also help relieve nausea associated with 8-methoxsalen chemotherapy, but this trial was not randomized [156]. The ability of ginger to reduce acute and delayed nausea associated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy was tested in a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial [157]. Fortyeight subjects with gynecologic malignancies treated with cisplatin therapy were randomized to receive either placebo or 1 g per day of ginger orally for the first 5 days of the chemotherapy cycle on the first day, and metaclopramide daily for the next 4 days.…”

“…Decreased rate of neuropathy [151][152][153][154] Ginger postoperatively in surgical cancer patients; with MOPP chemotherapy; with cisplatin chemotherapy Decreased nausea [155][156][157] Calendula homeopathic lotion in radiation therapy…”

Searching for Evidence to Support the Use of Ginger in the Prevention of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting

“…Dosing was 1-2 g per day over 1-10 days. Overall, three trials demonstrated the benefit of ginger in the management of acute or delayed CINV, [19][20][21] two showed an effect similar to that of metoclopramide, 17,18 and two had unsatisfactory results. 16,22 Moreover, the heterogeneity of ginger doses and formulations, and often the lack of appropriate antiemetic treatment in the control group, limit the applicability of these results to daily clinical practice.…”

“…14 A recent systematic literature review 15 identified seven randomized and/or crossover trials of ginger versus placebo or current antiemetic therapies in patients undergoing chemotherapy. [16][17][18][19][20][21][22] The sample sizes of these studies ranged from 36 to 576 patients, who were receiving a variety of chemotherapy regimens. The timeframe of CINV symptom assessment varied among the studies from 3 days before chemotherapy treatment to 10 days after treatment.…”