title: EFFECTS OF ZINGIBER OFFICINALE ROSCOE FRESH EXTRACT ON AMELANOTIC MELANOMA AND NORMAL SKIN FIBROBLASTS.
abstract: Zingiber officinale Roscoe is a very important medicinal plant, with a long history of therapeutic uses, especially in oriental traditional medicine.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the cytotoxicity of a fresh ginger extract on some skin tumor cells compared to normal cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  C32 amelanotic melanoma cell line and CCD human skin fibroblasts were used. The fresh extract obtained by crushing ginger rhizome was examined for phenolic content. The in vitro cytotoxicity was examined using phase contrast microscopy and MTT assay for the concentrations of 2 and 4 mg% total phenols.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both concentrations used for treatment induced no changes in normal the morphology and viability of fibroblasts compared to control cells. Amelanotic melanoma cells displayed profound changes in cell morphology such as cell shrinkage, rounding-up and membrane blebbing and a decrease in cell viability in a dose-dependent manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fresh ginger extract induced no changes in normal skin fibroblast viability, but caused profound cytotoxic effects on amelanotic melanoma. These results could encourage further studies regarding the intimate mechanisms of the antitumor action displayed by the fresh ginger extract.
authors.forename: Sabina Ioana
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Cojocaru
authors.forename: Miruna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stan
authors.forename: Gh
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stoian
authors.forename: Anca
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dinischiotu
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002470:Cell Survival; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D020939:Zingiber officinale / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques / Q000379:methods; D018328:Melanoma, Amelanotic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019800:Phenol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019800:Phenol