title: Effect of ginger root on cyclooxygenase-1 and 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase expression in colonic mucosa of humans at normal and increased risk for colorectal cancer.
abstract: Elevated tissue levels of prostaglandin E2, produced by cyclooxygenase (COX), are an early event in colorectal cancer (CRC). Data suggest the efficacy of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as cancer preventives, in the inhibition of COX activity; however, side effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pose unacceptable limitations. Ginger has been reported to have anti-inflammatory activities with significant CRC preventive potential. We investigated whether consumption of 2.0 g ginger daily regulated the level of two key enzymes that control prostaglandin E2 production, COX-1 and NAD(+)-dependent 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH). Thirty participants at normal and 20 participants at increased risk for CRC were randomized and given 2.0 g/day ginger or placebo for 28 days. Flexible sigmoidoscopy was used to obtain colon biopsies at baseline and the end of the study. Tissue levels of COX-1 and 15-PGDH were assessed using western blotting. After ginger consumption, participants at increased risk for CRC had a significantly reduced colonic COX-1 protein level (23.8±41%) compared with the placebo group (18.9±52%; P=0.03). Protein levels of 15-PGDH in the colon were unchanged. In participants who were at normal risk for CRC, neither protein levels of COX-1 nor 15-PGDH in the colon were altered by ginger consumption. Ginger significantly lowered COX-1 protein expression in participants at increased risk for CRC but not in those at normal risk for CRC. Ginger did not alter 15-PGDH protein expression in either increased or normal-risk participants. Further investigation, in larger studies with a longer ginger intervention, is needed to examine the ability of ginger to impact tissue levels of prostaglandin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, USA.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Danielle K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Turgeon
authors.forename: Benjamin D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Elkhansa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sidahmed
authors.forename: Mack T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Ruffin
authors.forename: Dean E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Brenner
authors.forename: Ananda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: Suzanna M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Zick
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D020939:Zingiber officinale / Q000737:chemistry; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D006911:Hydroxyprostaglandin Dehydrogenases / Q000235:genetics*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D010936:Plant Extracts; D006911:Hydroxyprostaglandin Dehydrogenases; C035859:15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; C496511:PTGS1 protein, human