Larvicidal constituents of Zingiber officinale (ginger) against Anisakis simplex.

In this study, we investigated the anthelmintic activity of [10]-shogaol, [6]-shogaol, [10]-gingerol and [6]-gingerol, compounds isolated from the roots of Zingiber officinale L., Zingiberaceae (ginger), against Anisakis simplex. The above compounds kill or reduce spontaneous movement in A. simplex larvae. The maximum lethal efficacy of [10]-shogaol and [10]-gingerol was approximately 80% and 100%, respectively. We further examined the time course of compound-induced loss of mobility in A. simplex. The results showed that various concentrations of [10]-shogaol, [6]-shogaol, [10]-gingerol and [6]-gingerol have maximum effects on loss of spontaneous movement from 24 to 72 h. In addition, the time course of mortality and the percentage of loss of spontaneous movements were ascertained to determine the minimum effective doses of [10]-gingerol and [10]-shogaol. [10]-Gingerol exhibited a larger maximum larvicidal effect and greater loss of spontaneous movement than [10]-shogaol and albendazole. In addition, these constituents of Zingiber officinale showed effects against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and peroxyl radicals. These constituents of Zingiber officinale are responsible for its larvicidal activity against A. simplex.

Cytotoxic compounds from the stems of Cinnamomum tenuifolium.

Three new butanolides, tenuifolide A (1), isotenuifolide A (2), and tenuifolide B (3), a new secobutanolide, secotenuifolide A (4), and one new sesquiterpenoid, tenuifolin (5), along with 16 known compounds were isolated from the stems of Cinnamomum tenuifolium. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analyses. Compound 4 was found to induce apoptotic-related DNA damage, increase sub-G1 cells, and inhibit the growth of human prostate cancer cells, DU145. In addition, treatment with 4 significantly increased intracellular H2O2 and/or peroxide. The results show that 4 induced (a) noticeable reduction of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (DeltaPsim); (b) significant increase in the ratio of cytochrome c concentration (cytosol/mitochondria); and (c) subsequent activation of caspase-9/caspase-3. Antiproliferation caused by 4 was found to markedly decrease when pretreated with caspase-9/caspase-3 inhibitor. In ROS scavenging, antioxidant, NADPH oxidase, and NO inhibitor studies, pretreatment of DU145 cells with either DPI, dexamethasone, L-NAME, or mannitol decreased 4-induced intracellular DCF fluorescence of ROS. These results suggest that an increase of H2O2 and/or peroxide by 4 is the initial apoptotic event and 4 has anticancer effects on DU145 cells.

Anthelmintic constituents from ginger (Zingiber officinale) against Hymenolepis nana.

This study investigated the anthelmintic activity of gingerenone A, [6]-dehydrogingerdione, [4]-shogaol, 5-hydroxy-[6]-gingerol, [6]-shogaol, [6]-gingerol, [10]-shogaol, [10]-gingerol, hexahydrocurcumin, 3R,5S-[6]-gingerdiol and 3S,5S-[6]-gingerdiol, a constituent isolate from the roots of ginger, for the parasite Hymenolepis nana. The cestocidal activity or ability to halt spontaneous parasite movement (oscillation/peristalsis) in H. nana of above constituents was reached from 24 to 72h in a time- and dose-dependent manner, respectively. The [10]-shogaol and [10]-gingero1 have maximum lethal efficacy and loss of spontaneous movement than the others at 24-72h. In addition, worms treated with 1 and 10µM [10]-gingero1, more than 30% had spontaneous movement of oscillation at 72h but [10]-shogaol at 72h only about 15-20% of oscillation. This showing that [10]-gingero1 had less loss of spontaneous movement efficacy than [10]-shogaol. After exposure to 200µM [10]-shogaol, 100% of H. nana had died at 12h rather than died at 24h for [10]-gingerol, showing that [10]-gingero1 had less lethal efficacy than [10]-shogaol. In addition, these constituents of ginger showed effects against peroxyl radical under cestocidal activity. In order to evaluate the cestocidal activity and cytokine production caused by ginger's extract R0 in the H. nana infected mice, we carried out in vivo examination about H. nana infected mice BALB/c mice were inoculated orally with 500 eggs. After post-inoculation, R0 (1g/kg/day) was administered orally for 10 days. The R0 exhibited cestocidal activity in vivo of significantly reduced worms number and cytokines production by in vitro Con A-stimulated spleen cells showed that INF-γ and IL-2 were significantly increases by R0. IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-13 were significantly decreases and Murine KC and IL-12 were not significantly changes by R0. Together, these findings first suggest that these constituents of ginger might be used as cestocidal agents against H. nana.