MAO-A Inhibitory Potential of Terpene Constituents from Ginger Rhizomes—A Bioactivity Guided Fractionation

Abstract

Background: In the search for novel antidepressive drug candidates, bioguided fractionation of nonpolar constituents present in the oleoresin from ginger rhizomes (Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Zingiberaceae) was performed. This particular direction of the research was chosen due to the existing reports on the antidepressive properties of ginger total extract. The search for individual metabolites acting as MAO-A inhibitors, which correspond to the apparent effect of the total extract, is the subject of this work. Methods: Hexane extracts from ginger rhizomes were fractionated by using column chromatography (including silica gel impregnated with silver nitrate) and semi-preparative high-performance chromatography. For the activity assessment, an in vitro monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) inhibition luminescence assay was performed on 10 purified terpenes: 1,8-cineole, α-citronellal, geraniol, β-sesquiphellandrene, γ-terpinen, geranyl acetate, isobornyl acetate, terpinen-4-ol, (E,E)-α-farnesene, and α-zingiberene. Results: Geraniol and (−)-terpinen-4-ol were found to be the strongest enzyme inhibitors with inhibition of 44.1% and 42.5%, respectively, at a concentration of 125 µg/mL. No differences in the inhibition potential were observed for the different groups of terpenes: sesquiterpenes, monoterpenes, or sesquiterpene alcohols; however, the two most active compounds contained a hydroxyl moiety. Conclusions: Terpene constituents from ginger’s extract were found to exhibit moderate inhibitory properties against the MAO-A enzyme in in vitro tests.

Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors among Zingiber officinale Terpenes—Extraction Conditions and Thin Layer Chromatography-Based Bioautography Studies

“…The currently available medications can slow down the progression of dementia, but not to treat it. Based on the above information, the search for new potential drug candidates that retard the progression of memory impairment is of the highest importance [1,2]. Among the mechanisms of dementia are disturbances in acetylcholine synthesis and an overproduction of esterases, that decompose this neuromodulator, have been highlighted in various scientific reports.…”

Effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale) on semen quality

“…Generally, ginger roots (rhizomes) are widely used as a food spice (Eliopoulos, ). In addition, it is commonly used in traditional medicine because of its inherited and evidence‐based health benefits in wide‐range of diseased conditions/disorders such as cancers (Chen et al, ; Saha et al, ; Salafzoon, Mahmoodzadeh Hosseini, & Halabian, ), diabetes (Al Hroob, Abukhalil, Alghonmeen, & Mahmoud, ; Zhu, Chen, Song, Wang, & Sun, ), cardiovascular disease (Liu et al, ; Nicoll & Henein, ), male infertility (Banihani, ; Hosseini et al, ), ulcer (Liu et al, ; Wang et al, ), depression (Kukula‐Koch et al, ), rheumatoid arthritis (Funk, Frye, Oyarzo, & Timmermann, ), Alzheimer (Cuya, Baptista, Franca, & T., ) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (Sahebkar, ). In actual fact, the impact of ginger on human health is attributable to its potent bioactive properties such as antioxidant (Danwilai, Konmun, Sripanidkulchai, & Subongkot, ; Masuda, Kikuzaki, Hisamoto, & Nakatani, ), anti‐inflammatory (Jeena, Liju, & Kuttan, ), immuno‐modulatory (Ali, Blunden, Tanira, & Nemmar, ), antimicrobial (Park, Bae, & Lee, ) and anti‐tumorigenic properties (Ali et al, ).…”

Ginger and Testosterone

“…Ginger ( Zingiber officinale ) is a flowering medicinal plant whose root, or rhizome (plant stem) is commonly used as a spice [1]. Additionally, it is widely used in folk medicine because of its many health benefits in various diseases, including chronic diseases such as diabetes [2,3], cancer [4,5,6], ulcer [7,8], Alzheimer [9], cardiovascular disease [10,11], and depression [12]. The beneficial effect of ginger in such diseases is mainly due to its antioxidant [13,14], antimicrobial [15], and anti-inflammatory properties [16].…”