A safer cancer treatment? Kencur ginger extract shown to inhibit tumor proliferation

28 Aug 2023 --- A type of ginger native to Southeast Asia has emerged as a potential anti-cancer agent. According to researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University, the aromatic spice and herbal remedy Kencur and its primary active component, ethyl p-methoxycinnamate (EMC), significantly hindered cancer cell growth at both the cellular body system levels.

Though previous studies suggested EMC acted as an anti-cancer agent by curbing the expression of mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), which contributes to cancer cell proliferation, the precise mechanism has remained elusive. The results reveal that the EMC in the ginger Kencur (Kaempferia galanga L.) could be an alternative treatment.

The study targeted TFAMs and Ehrlich ascites tumor cells (EATCs) from breast cancer.

“The results of this study confirm the anti-cancer effects of Kencur extract and its main active ingredient, EMC,” says the study’s lead author, Akiko Kijima. “It is highly expected that TFAM will become a new marker for anti-cancer effects in the future as research advances in related fields.”

Increasing incidence
According to the study, published in the journal Heliyon, cancer constitutes a significant global health concern, ranking as the primary cause of mortality in both developed and developing nations. The incidence of cancer continues to rise annually, with the year 2020 witnessing approximately 10 million deaths attributed to the disease.

Among cancers, breast cancer has notably surged in occurrence among women. Projections suggest that the count of newly diagnosed cancer cases could escalate to approximately 27.5 million by the year 2040, underscoring the urgency of advancing effective strategies for cancer treatment.

The study further notes that, presently, conventional cancer therapies encompass chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery – each bearing diverse effects. Chemotherapeutic agents, while targeting both cancerous and healthy cells, incur harm to various bodily organs. 

Given these drawbacks, the researchers state that there is an increasing focus on developing novel chemotherapeutic agents characterized by reduced side effects.

Toward a safer treatment
The research shows that Kencur’s rhizome extracts suppressed EATC proliferation by targeting the inhibition of S-phase progression. EMC, the main compound in the extracts, exhibited similar anti-proliferative effects. Moreover, EMC influenced protein expressions linked to cell cycle regulation.

The researchers highlight the increasing global concern over cancer’s prevalence and the need for and less toxic treatments and alternatives. This has led many researchers to explore natural compounds found in plants, such as flavonoids and terpenoids, that exhibit anti-cancer properties. 

Furthermore, the study offers promising insights into the potential use of Kencur and its active component EMC as anti-cancer agents, opening doors to safer and more effective cancer treatments.

Finding less toxic alternatives
The study further offers a comprehensive understanding of how Kencur extract and EMC work against EATCs and other cancer cells. 

Kencur extract and EMC exhibit selective cytotoxicity toward cancer cells. This suggests that these substances are more toxic to cancer cells than to normal cells. Importantly, Kencur’s anti-proliferative effects were observed without inducing cytotoxicity in normal cells.

One of the key mechanisms identified is the inhibition of the gap 1 (G1) to the S phase transition of EATCs. The S phase is where a cell synthesizes a complete copy of its DNA and nucleus, leading to cell replication and is crucial for the uncontrolled cell proliferation characteristic of cancer cells. 

EMC was shown to downregulate cyclin D1 expression, which is essential for transitioning from G1 to S phase, while upregulating an enzyme that induces G1 cell cycle arrest.

Furthermore, the study revealed that EMC’s suppression of TFAM expression plays a pivotal role in inhibiting cell proliferation. Despite reducing TFAM levels, EMC did not induce mitochondrial dysfunction or damage the surrounding normal cells.

The study emphasizes the importance of investigating natural compounds like Kencur as potential sources of safer and more effective anti-cancer agents. While the results hold promise, researchers note that further research and clinical trials will be needed to validate the findings and determine the viability of using Kencur and EMC in breast cancer treatment.

Edited by William Bradford Nichols