Affiliations: College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul
151-742, South Korea
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Professor Young-Joon Surh, College
of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Shillim-dong, Kwanak-ku, Seoul 151-742,
South Korea. Tel.: +82 2 880 7845; Fax: +82 2 874 9775; E-mail:
surh@plaza.snu.ac.kr
Abstract: [6]-Gingerol, a major pungent ingredient of ginger (Zingiber
officinale Roscoe, Zingiberaceae), has a wide array of pharmacologic effects.
Previous studies have demonstrated that [6]-gingerol inhibits mouse skin tumor
promotion and anchorage-independent growth of cultured mouse epidermal cells
stimulated with epidermal growth factor. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), a key enzyme
in the prostaglandin biosynthesis, has been recognized as a molecular target
for many anti-inflammatory as well as chemopreventive agents. Topical
application of [6]-gingerol inhibited phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate -induced
COX-2 expression. One of the essential transcription factors responsible for
COX-2 induction is NF-κB. [6]-Gingerol suppressed
NF-κB DNA binding activity in mouse skin. In addition,
[6]-gingerol inhibited the phoshorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein
kinase which may account for its inactivation of NF-κB
and suppression of COX-2 expression.
