Ginger extract shows prostate benefits: Human study
According to new findings published in the British Journal of Nutrition, a whole ginger extract was found to inhibit the growth of prostate cancer grafts on mice by 56%.
“The human equivalent dose of the ginger extract was found to be approximately 567 mg for a 70 kg adult, which perhaps can be obtained from about 100 g of fresh ginger.” wrote researchers from the Georgia State University in Atlanta.
“The present study is the first report to describe identification and detailed evaluation of in vitro and in vivo anticancer activity of whole ginger extract in the therapeutic management of human prostate cancer.”
The rhizome of the ginger plant (Zingiber officinale) is a rich source of antioxidants, including gingerols, shogaols, zingerones and other ketone derivatives. It has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-proliferative activities.
Study details
The Atlanta-based researchers prepared a ginger extract from whole ginger purchased at a local farmers market.
The extract was fed to mice at a dose of 100 mg per kg of body weight was found to inhibit the progression of prostate cancer grafts on mice by 56%.
Further analysis showed that the ginger extract inhibited the proliferation of the prostate cancer cells and increased apoptosis – or programmed cell death - compared with control experiments.
Cell studies with human cells also revealed that ginger could perturb various cell functions that prevented the spread of the tumor
The researchers stress that no “detectable toxicity in normal, rapidly dividing tissues such as gut and bone marrow” was observed.
Take home
“The present study reports a novel finding that oral consumption of the extract of whole ginger, a commonly consumed vegetable worldwide, significantly inhibits prostate tumor progression in both in vitro and in vivo mice models.
“The anticancer effect of ginger extract was coupled with its significant antiproliferative, cell-cycle inhibitory and pro-apoptotic activity in cell culture as well as in prostate tumor xenograft models,” concluded the researchers.
Source: British Journal of Nutrition
Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1017/S0007114511003308
“Benefits of whole ginger extract in prostate cancer”
Authors: P. Karna, S. Chagani, S.R. Gundala, P.C.G. Rida, G. Asif, et al.
