Abstract
The anti-diabetic activity of ginger powder (Zingiber officinale) has been recently promoted, with the recommendation to be included as one of the dietary supplements for diabetic patients. However, previous studies presented different results, which may be caused by degradation and metabolic changes of ginger components, gingerols, shogaols and paradols. Therefore, we prepared 10 ginger active components, namely 6-, 8-, 10-paradols, 6-, 8-, 10-shogaols, 6-, 8-, 10-gingerols and zingerone, and evaluated their anti-hyperglycemic activity. Among the tested compounds, 6-paradol and 6-shogaol showed potent activity in stimulating glucose utilization by 3T3-L1 adipocytes and C2C12 myotubes. The effects were attributed to the increase in 5′ adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. 6-Paradol, the major metabolite of 6-shogaol, was utilized in an in vivo assay and significantly reduced blood glucose, cholesterol and body weight in high-fat diet-fed mice.
Highlights
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is one of the oldest domesticated spices in human history
Previous studies indicated that 6-gingerol promoted glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, but the ability of other ginger non-volatile pungent components in promoting cellular glucose utilization is fully understood [19]
Insignificant glucose uptake activity of 10-paradol, along with the previously-reported data showing poor bioavailability of 8-paradol [33], motivated us to select 6-paradol and 6, 8- and 10-shogaols for further investigation. 6-Paradol and 6, 8- and 10-shogaols were tested for possible cytotoxic effects in concentration range of 50–400 μM showing that these compounds exerted no toxicity on 3T3-L1 adipocytes up to 200 μM and on C2C12 myotubes up to 100 μM (Figure 1C)
Summary
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is one of the oldest domesticated spices in human history. It is commonly used as a food additive (spice) and as a key component in traditional herbal medicine. The health-enhancing potential of ginger has been intensively explored, and it is considered to be safe as an herbal supplement by different regulatory authorities [1,2,3]. Anti-bacterial and anti-viral activities [5,6,7]. Ginger was found to be active against inflammatory, allergic, degenerative, cardiovascular and metabolic disorders [8,9,10]
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