Ginger Reduces Hyperglycemia-Evoked Gastric Dysrhythmias in Healthy Humans: Possible Role of Endogenous Prostaglandins

Abstract

Acute hyperglycemia evokes gastric slow wave dysrhythmias via endogenous prostaglandin generation. Ginger exhibits slow wave antiarrhythmic effects in other models, but its actions on hyperglycemia-evoked gastric dysrhythmias are unexplored. We hypothesized that ginger prevents disruption of slow wave rhythm by acute hyperglycemia via inhibition of prostaglandin production but not its actions. Twenty-two healthy humans underwent fasting electrogastrography during hyperglycemic clamping to 250 to 290 mg/dl after double-blind placebo or ginger root (1 g). Responses were compared with the prostaglandin E 1 analog misoprostol (400 g). Dominant frequencies (DF) and the percentage of recording times in the bradygastric [0.5-2 cycles/min (cpm)], normal (2-4 cpm), and tachygastric (4 -9 cpm) frequency ranges were analyzed. After placebo, hyperglycemia reduced normal 2 to 4 cpm activity from 94.4 Ϯ 2.6 to 66.0 Ϯ 10.4%, increased the DF from 2.96 Ϯ 0.04 to 4.09 Ϯ 0.45 cpm, and increased tachygastria from 2.0 Ϯ 1.4 to 29.3 Ϯ 10.7% (P Ͻ 0.05). Hyperglycemia effects on normal activity (77.3 Ϯ 8.3%), DF (3.46 Ϯ 0.37 cpm), and tachygastria (15.6 Ϯ 8.6%) were significantly reduced by ginger (P Ͻ 0.05). Misoprostol evoked decreases in normal activity from 95.4 Ϯ 2.0 to 81.7 Ϯ 3.0% and increases in tachygastria from 3.1 Ϯ 1.6 to 11.2 Ϯ 2.4% (P Ͻ 0.05). However, ginger did not correct these abnormalities versus placebo (P ϭ N.S.). In conclusion, acute hyperglycemia evokes gastric slow wave dysrhythmias that are prevented by ginger root. Conversely, the compound has no effect on dysrhythmias elicited by a prostaglandin E 1 analog, indicating that ginger likely acts to blunt production of prostaglandins rather than inhibiting their action. These findings suggest novel mechanisms for the traditional Chinese herbal remedy ginger.

Tachygastria induced by gastric electrical stimulation is mediated via α‐ and β‐adrenergic pathway and inhibits antral motility in dogs

“… 22 Since then, numerous studies have reported gastric dysrhythmias, mostly tachygastria, in various clinic settings, such as gastrointestinal motility disorders, 23 motion sickness 24 and early pregnancy 25 and surgical procedures 26,27 . Tachygastria can be induced experimentally with various chemical agents and gastrointestinal hormones or peptides, such as prostaglandin, 28 vasopressin, 29 glucagon, 30 atropine, 31 nicotine 32 and insulin, cholecystokinin‐pancreozymine, and pentagastrin 33 …”

Protein and Ginger for the Treatment of Chemotherapy-Induced Delayed Nausea

“…Ginger also prolonged latency before nausea onset and shortened recovery time after exposure to a rotating optokinetic drum, a stimulus that often induces symptoms of motion sickness. Gonlachanvit et al 10 reported that one gram of ginger reduced the gastric dysrhythmia and nausea resulting from the infusion of dextrose to produce hyperglycemia in healthy humans. In addition, it has been shown that ginger reduces postoperative nausea and vomiting.…”

Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders: An Update

“…Alternative therapies include ginger [133] , acupuncture with stimulation of the PC6 point on the wrist [134,135] , or the ST36 (Zusanli) point below the patella [136] .…”