Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) and the gingerols inhibit the growth of Cag A+ strains of Helicobacter pylori.
BACKGROUND
Ginger root (Zingiber officinale) has been used traditionally for the treatment of gastrointestinal ailments such as motion sickness, dyspepsia and hyperemesis gravidarum, and is also reported to have chemopreventative activity in animal models. The gingerols are a group of structurally related polyphenolic compounds isolated from ginger and known to be the active constituents. Since Helicobacter pylori (HP) is the primary etiological agent associated with dyspepsia, peptic ulcer disease and the development of gastric and colon cancer, the anti-HP effects of ginger and its constituents were tested in vitro.


METHODS
A methanol extract of the dried powdered ginger rhizome, fractions of the extract and the isolated constituents, 6-,8-,10-gingerol and 6-shogoal, were tested against 19 strains of HP, including 5 CagA+ strains.


RESULTS
The methanol extract of ginger rhizome inhibited the growth of all 19 strains in vitro with a minimum inhibitory concentration range of 6.25-50 micrograms/ml. One fraction of the crude extract, containing the gingerols, was active and inhibited the growth of all HP strains with an MIC range of 0.78 to 12.5 micrograms/ml and with significant activity against the CagA+ strains.


CONCLUSIONS
These data demonstrate that ginger root extracts containing the gingerols inhibit the growth of H. pylori CagA+ strains in vitro and this activity may contribute to its chemopreventative effects.
Mahady
Gail B
GB
Department of Pharmacy Practice, UIC/NIH Center for Botanical Dietary Supplements Research, PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centre for Traditional Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, 833 S. Wood St, MC 877, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. mahady@uic.edu
Pendland
Susan L
SL
Yun
Gina S
GS
Lu
Zhi-Zhen
ZZ
Stoia
Adina
A
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002396:Catechols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005233:Fatty Alcohols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020939:Zingiber officinale / Q000737:chemistry*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002396:Catechols; D005233:Fatty Alcohols; D010936:Plant Extracts; C080866:cagA protein, Helicobacter pylori; C040115:shogaol; C007845:gingerol; D000432:Methanol