New study reveals anti-cancer properties in Kencur ginger

Osaka Metropolitan University scientists have verified the anticancer effects of Kencur, a tropical plant of the ginger family, mainly grown in Southeast Asia, in cell and animal experiments. They found that Kencur extract and its main active components significantly inhibit cancer cell growth at the cellular and animal levels. Furthermore, the involvement of TFAM in the mechanism of action was confirmed.

Jamu – an Indonesian drink prepared from Kencur ginger (Kaempferia galanga L.) a tropical plant cultivated mainly in Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries

You may know it as an aromatic spice to add flavor to your dishes or as a soothing herbal remedy to use for upset stomachs, but researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University have uncovered promising findings that Kencur, a tropical plant in the ginger family native to Southeast Asia, possesses anti-cancer effects.

Led by Associate Professor Akiko Kojima of the Graduate School of Human Life and Ecology, the researchers demonstrated that Kencur extract and its main active component, ethyl p-methoxycinnamate (EMC), significantly suppressed cancer cell growth at the cellular and animal levels.

While previous studies on EMC indicated its anti-cancer potential by decreasing the expression of mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), which is associated with cancer cell proliferation, the exact mechanism remained unclear until now.

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

Their findings were published in Heliyon.

 

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Let's have a Kencur break! ― New study reveals anti-cancer properties in Kencur ginger

OMU research team led by Associate Professor Akiko Kojima of the Graduate School of Human Life and Ecology has demonstrated the anticancer effects of Kencur, a tropical plant in the ginger family, native to Southeast Asia, in cell and animal experiments.

Published: 28 Aug 2023

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Reference: 

Kaempferia galanga L. extract and its main component, ethyl p-methoxycinnamate, inhibit the proliferation of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells by suppressing TFAM expression
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17588
Author: Yutaro Sasaki, Toshio Norikura, Isao Matsui-Yuasa, Ritsuko Fujii, Leenawaty Limantara, Akiko Kojima-Yuasa
Publication date: 23 June 2023
URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17588

Funding information:

JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number (JP20K11626), Japan