A comparative study of Zingiber officinale Roscoe pulp and peel: phytochemical composition and evaluation of antitumour activity

Abstract

Colon cancer is one of the major causes of cancer mortality worldwide. Hydroalcoholic extract of ginger peel extract was more potent against colon cancer cells than ginger pulp hydroalcoholic extract using MTT assay, while ginger pulp hydroalcoholic extract showed higher anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. The two samples of ginger showed a different polyphenolic content and lipophilic composition. Peel extract possessed twice the polyphenolic content than pulp and the highest number of non-polar compounds. Among them, α-zingibirene was found to be the major constituent. The findings add to epidemiologic evidence for therapeutic effects of ginger peel in colorectal carcinoma.

Keywords: NO production; Zingiber officinale; colorectal carcinoma; fatty acids; phytosterols.