title: In vitro anti-hydatic and immunomodulatory effects of ginger and [6]-gingerol.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study in vitro anti-hydatic and immunomodulatory effects of ginger and [6]-gingerol as an alternative therapy for cystic echinococcosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Effect of a commonly used herbal product and ginger (Zingiber officinale) towards protoscoleces (PSC) and cyst wall in vitro was studied. The effect of [6]-gingerol, and the pungent constituent of ginger, was also evaluated on PSC culture. Furthermore, the activity of both extracts in association with interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) on PSC co-cultured with mononuclear cells of hydatic patients was evaluated. The nitric oxide (NO) production was measured in each co-culture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ginger exhibited a concentration- and time-dependent cytotoxic effect against PSC and cyst wall. Interestingly, ginger was more effective than the [6]-gingerol. Moreover, additional parasitic effect between extracts and IFN-γ are also observed in co-cultures. Furthermore, both extracts attenuated the NO production elicited by this infection or by the IFN-γ.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ginger has an important anti-hydatic effect in vitro. This effect is amplified in the presence of IFN-γ. Moreover, this herbal product may protect against host's cell death by reducing the high levels of NO. Ginger may act, at least, through the [6]-gingerol. All our data suggest the promising use of ginger in the treatment of Echinococcus granulosus infection.
authors: University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene, Faculty of Biological Science, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Team 'Cytokines and NO Synthases', PB 32 El-Alia, Algiers 16111, Algeria.
authors: Manel
authors: M
authors: Amri
authors: University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene, Faculty of Biological Science, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Team 'Cytokines and NO Synthases', PB 32 El-Alia, Algiers 16111, Algeria. Electronic address: touilboukoffa@yahoo.fr.
authors: Chafia
authors: C
authors: Touil-Boukoffa
keywords: Cytotoxic activity; Echinococcosis; Ginger; Nitric oxide; [6]-Gingerol