Abstract:

In our study we investigated anticancer effects of 6-gingerol and 6-shogaol from Zingiber officinale. Anticancer effect was monitored by using cell viability assay. Experiments are performed on both A549 cells that are incubated with IL-1β (interleukin 1 β) and cells that are not incubated with it. Curcumin from Curcuma longa, a natural compound that is known for its anti-cancer effect, is used as a positive control and effects of 6-gingerol and 6-shogaol are compared with it. MTT (3- (4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazole bromide) assay was performed for wide range concentrations. The concentration changes were 10 folds. To obtain IC50 values of 6-shogol and 6-gingerol, MTT assays were performed again, using the previous concentrations but in a narrower range. According to the assays 6-shogaol's 24 h IC50 determined as 62,5 μM for A549 cells which were not incubated with IL-1β and 63,2 μM for the cells which were exposed to IL-1β. 6-shogaol's cytotoxic effect was as much as curcumin which is a known natural anticancer molecule, while 6-gingerol did not show any effect towards decreasing the cell viability. Mechanisms which underly 6-shogoal's cytotoxic effect are worth further investigation.

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