Ginger augmented chemotherapy: A novel multitarget nontoxic approach for cancer management

Abstract

Cancer, referred to as the 'disease of civilization', continues to haunt humanity due to its dreadful manifestations and limited success of therapeutic interventions such as chemotherapy in curing the disease. Although effective, chemotherapy has repeatedly demonstrated inadequacy in disease management due to its debilitating side effects arising from its deleterious nonspecific effects on normal healthy cells. In addition, development of chemoresistance due to mono-targeting often results in cessation of chemotherapy. This urgently demands development and implementation of multitargeted alternative therapies with mild or no side effects. One extremely promising strategy that yet remains untapped in the clinic is augmenting chemotherapy with dietary phytochemicals or extracts. Ginger, depository of numerous bioactive molecules, not only targets cancer cells but can also mitigate chemotherapy-associated side effects. Consequently, combination therapy involving ginger extract and chemotherapeutic agents may offer the advantage of being efficacious with reduced toxicity. Here we discuss the remarkable and often overlooked potential of ginger extract to manage cancer, the possibility of developing ginger-based combinational therapies, and the major roadblocks along with strategies to overcome them in clinical translation of such inventions. We are optimistic that clinical implementation of such combination regimens would be a much sought after modality in cancer management.

6‐Shogaol improves behavior and memory in Wistar rats prenatally exposed to lipopolysaccharide

“…Since the ancient times, they have been looking for a source of healthy life and an instrument for the prevention and treatment of diseases through bioactive compounds present in food and plants (Kantati et al, 2016; Sen & Samanta, 2014). Thus, the aromatic plant ginger, used in cooking and also in medicine (Mashhadi et al, 2013), possessing a variety of bioactive compounds, including gingerols, paradols, and shogaols (Nagendra Chari et al, 2013; Saxena et al, 2016).…”

Assessing the Effects of Ginger Extract on Polyphenol Profiles and the Subsequent Impact on the Fecal Microbiota by Simulating Digestion and Fermentation In Vitro

“…As a medicinal and edible plant, ginger has strong pharmacological activity and has been used as a Chinese herbal medicine for more than 2500 years. In recent years, the health-related applications of ginger have been widely studied, especially in various diseases, such as cancer [ 2 ], nausea and vomiting [ 3 , 4 ], gastrointestinal disease [ 5 ], osteoarthritis [ 6 ], and metabolic syndromes [ 7 ]. The nutritional and pharmacological activities of ginger mainly come from its bioactive polyphenols, especially the pungent principles gingerols and shogaols [ 8 ].…”

Application of Combination High‐Throughput Phenotypic Screening and Target Identification Methods for the Discovery of Natural Product‐Based Combination Drugs

“…When combined with other naturally occurring constituents that exist within the complex matrices of the plants from which these active compounds are extracted, it may be possible to optimize their potencies as chemopreventives. Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that there may be a synergistic effect when natural product constituents are administered in combination with existing chemotherapeutic agents …”

“…Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that there may be a synergistic effect when natural product constituents are administered in combination with existing chemotherapeutic agents. 37 Whole natural products may be even more potent and less toxic 38 when administered together with other natural products as formulations, rather than individually. In the practice of TCM, more than 100,000 unique formulations have been made over the past 2000 years.…”