title: Ginger-Mechanism of action in chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: A review.
abstract: Despite advances in antiemetic therapy, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) still poses a significant burden to patients undergoing chemotherapy. Nausea, in particular, is still highly prevalent in this population. Ginger has been traditionally used as a folk remedy for gastrointestinal complaints and has been suggested as a viable adjuvant treatment for nausea and vomiting in the cancer context. Substantial research has revealed ginger to possess properties that could exert multiple beneficial effects on chemotherapy patients who experience nausea and vomiting. Bioactive compounds within the rhizome of ginger, particularly the gingerol and shogaol class of compounds, interact with several pathways that are directly implicated in CINV in addition to pathways that could play secondary roles by exacerbating symptoms. These properties include 5-HT3, substance P, and acetylcholine receptor antagonism; antiinflammatory properties; and modulation of cellular redox signaling, vasopressin release, gastrointestinal motility, and gastric emptying rate. This review outlines these proposed mechanisms by discussing the results of clinical, in vitro, and animal studies both within the chemotherapy context and in other relevant fields. The evidence presented in this review indicates that ginger possesses multiple properties that could be beneficial in reducing CINV.
authors.affiliation: a Centre of Dietetics Research, University of Queensland , St. Lucia , Queensland , Australia.|b National Institute of Integrative Medicine , Melbourne , Victoria , Australia.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Marx
authors.affiliation: b National Institute of Integrative Medicine , Melbourne , Victoria , Australia.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ried
authors.affiliation: c Division of Cancer Services, Princess Alexandra Hospital and Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology Brisbane , Queensland , Australia.
authors.forename: Alexandra L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.affiliation: d Centre for Integrative Clinical and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Princess Alexandra Hospital , Queensland , Australia.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vitetta
authors.affiliation: b National Institute of Integrative Medicine , Melbourne , Victoria , Australia.
authors.forename: Avni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sali
authors.affiliation: e Oncology & Haematology Unit, Princess Alexandra Hospital , Queensland , Australia.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McKavanagh
authors.affiliation: a Centre of Dietetics Research, University of Queensland , St. Lucia , Queensland , Australia.|f Department of Nutrition & Dietetics , Princess Alexandra Hospital , Queensland , Australia.|g Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University , Gold Coast , Queensland , Australia.
authors.forename: Liz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Isenring
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002396:Catechols / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020834:Ethnopharmacology; D005233:Fatty Alcohols / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020939:Zingiber officinale / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D027343:Rhizome / Q000737:chemistry*; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000932:Antiemetics; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D002396:Catechols; D005233:Fatty Alcohols; C040115:shogaol; C007845:gingerol
keywords: CINV; Ginger; chemotherapy; nausea; vomiting