Apoptotic effects of ginger extract (Zingiber officinale) on esophageal cancer cells ESO26: An in vitro study

Aim: Ginger is a natural dietary rhizome with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticarcinogenic properties. It has many medical beneficial properties such as anti-proliferation and antiapoptotic effects on cancerous esophageal cells. Materials and Methods: Esophageal cancer cells ESO26 were cultured in the presence and absence of ginger extract at various concentrations for 12, 18, and 24h. Then, the viability was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Western blot analysis of caspase-3 was performed to detect apoptosis. p21, Bax, and Bcl-2 gene expression was measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey test. Results: The ginger extract increased the cleavage of caspase-3 in cells (P < 0.05). Results of real-time PCR have shown that ginger decreased the expression of Bcl-2 and increased Bax and p21 gene expression (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Results showed that the process of cell proliferation has been stopped. Also, this study indicated that ginger might exert a chemopreventive effect on esophageal cancer through the suppression of proliferation and the growth of tumor cells as well as the induction of apoptosis.