Anticancer and cancer preventive activities of shogaol and curcumin from Zingiberaceae family plants in KG-1a leukemic stem cells

Abstract Background Leukemic stem cells (LSCs) present a significant challenge in the treatment of leukemia in patients because they exhibit a drug-resistant phenotype, making them difficult to eliminate. Searching for a new anticancer drug is crucial for improving leukemia treatment. Plants from th...

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Main Authors: Pawaret Panyajai, Natsima Viriyaadhammaa, Sawitree Chiampanichayakul, Yasuhisa Sakamoto, Siriporn Okonogi, Toshiro Moroishi, Songyot Anuchapreeda
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-02-01
Series:BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-04829-7
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author Pawaret Panyajai
Natsima Viriyaadhammaa
Sawitree Chiampanichayakul
Yasuhisa Sakamoto
Siriporn Okonogi
Toshiro Moroishi
Songyot Anuchapreeda
author_facet Pawaret Panyajai
Natsima Viriyaadhammaa
Sawitree Chiampanichayakul
Yasuhisa Sakamoto
Siriporn Okonogi
Toshiro Moroishi
Songyot Anuchapreeda
author_sort Pawaret Panyajai
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Leukemic stem cells (LSCs) present a significant challenge in the treatment of leukemia in patients because they exhibit a drug-resistant phenotype, making them difficult to eliminate. Searching for a new anticancer drug is crucial for improving leukemia treatment. Plants from the Zingiberaceae family are frequently used in traditional medicines due to their safety and accessibility. This study explores the anticancer activity, cancer preventive properties, and apoptosis inducing mechanisms of active compounds derived from these plants. Methods Ten crude ethanolic extracts from each plant of the Zingiberaceae family were obtained using maceration techniques. The cytotoxicity of all extracts anticancer was assessed in comparison to anticancer drugs (cyclophosphamide, cytarabine, doxorubicin, and idarubicin) using MTT assay on cancer cell lines (KG-1a, K562, A549, MCF-7, and HeLa) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Cancer prevention properties of the effective extracts and their active compounds were evaluated by measuring the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and nitric oxide (NO) using commercial kits. Cell cycle and cell death analyses were conducted using flow cytometry. Moreover, the effects of effective extracts and their active compounds on WT1 and CD34 expressions, as well as the apoptosis mechanism induced by the active compounds in KG-1a cells, were determined by Western blotting. Results The cytotoxicity tests revealed that crude ethanolic extracts from Curcuma longa, C. zedoaria, and Zingiber officinale exhibited effective cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines while demonstrating lower impact on PBMCs. The active compounds of C. longa and C. zedoaria are curcuminoids, while those in Z. officinale are shogaol and gingerol. Notably, the IC20 values of curcuminoids and shogaol exhibited cancer prevention properties and reduced WT1 protein expression, thereby inhibiting cell proliferation. Furthermore, shogaol and curcumin demonstrated the ability to arrest the cell cycle at the G2/M phase and induce apoptosis through the Akt pathway. Conclusion These findings highlight shogaol and curcumin as promising compounds for leukemia treatment.
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spelling doaj-art-67809e8e58fd42c49ef9ec5971b8ddbb2025-08-20T04:01:18ZengBMCBMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies2662-76712025-02-0125111610.1186/s12906-025-04829-7Anticancer and cancer preventive activities of shogaol and curcumin from Zingiberaceae family plants in KG-1a leukemic stem cellsPawaret Panyajai0Natsima Viriyaadhammaa1Sawitree Chiampanichayakul2Yasuhisa Sakamoto3Siriporn Okonogi4Toshiro Moroishi5Songyot Anuchapreeda6Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai UniversityDepartment of Medical Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai UniversityDepartment of Medical Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai UniversityCenter for Metabolic Regulation of Healthy Aging, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto UniversityCenter of Excellence in Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Chiang Mai UniversityCenter for Metabolic Regulation of Healthy Aging, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto UniversityDepartment of Medical Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai UniversityAbstract Background Leukemic stem cells (LSCs) present a significant challenge in the treatment of leukemia in patients because they exhibit a drug-resistant phenotype, making them difficult to eliminate. Searching for a new anticancer drug is crucial for improving leukemia treatment. Plants from the Zingiberaceae family are frequently used in traditional medicines due to their safety and accessibility. This study explores the anticancer activity, cancer preventive properties, and apoptosis inducing mechanisms of active compounds derived from these plants. Methods Ten crude ethanolic extracts from each plant of the Zingiberaceae family were obtained using maceration techniques. The cytotoxicity of all extracts anticancer was assessed in comparison to anticancer drugs (cyclophosphamide, cytarabine, doxorubicin, and idarubicin) using MTT assay on cancer cell lines (KG-1a, K562, A549, MCF-7, and HeLa) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Cancer prevention properties of the effective extracts and their active compounds were evaluated by measuring the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and nitric oxide (NO) using commercial kits. Cell cycle and cell death analyses were conducted using flow cytometry. Moreover, the effects of effective extracts and their active compounds on WT1 and CD34 expressions, as well as the apoptosis mechanism induced by the active compounds in KG-1a cells, were determined by Western blotting. Results The cytotoxicity tests revealed that crude ethanolic extracts from Curcuma longa, C. zedoaria, and Zingiber officinale exhibited effective cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines while demonstrating lower impact on PBMCs. The active compounds of C. longa and C. zedoaria are curcuminoids, while those in Z. officinale are shogaol and gingerol. Notably, the IC20 values of curcuminoids and shogaol exhibited cancer prevention properties and reduced WT1 protein expression, thereby inhibiting cell proliferation. Furthermore, shogaol and curcumin demonstrated the ability to arrest the cell cycle at the G2/M phase and induce apoptosis through the Akt pathway. Conclusion These findings highlight shogaol and curcumin as promising compounds for leukemia treatment.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-04829-7Zingiberaceae familyCancerLeukemiaLeukemia stem cellCurcuminShogaol
spellingShingle Pawaret Panyajai
Natsima Viriyaadhammaa
Sawitree Chiampanichayakul
Yasuhisa Sakamoto
Siriporn Okonogi
Toshiro Moroishi
Songyot Anuchapreeda
Anticancer and cancer preventive activities of shogaol and curcumin from Zingiberaceae family plants in KG-1a leukemic stem cells
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
Zingiberaceae family
Cancer
Leukemia
Leukemia stem cell
Curcumin
Shogaol
title Anticancer and cancer preventive activities of shogaol and curcumin from Zingiberaceae family plants in KG-1a leukemic stem cells
title_full Anticancer and cancer preventive activities of shogaol and curcumin from Zingiberaceae family plants in KG-1a leukemic stem cells
title_fullStr Anticancer and cancer preventive activities of shogaol and curcumin from Zingiberaceae family plants in KG-1a leukemic stem cells
title_full_unstemmed Anticancer and cancer preventive activities of shogaol and curcumin from Zingiberaceae family plants in KG-1a leukemic stem cells
title_short Anticancer and cancer preventive activities of shogaol and curcumin from Zingiberaceae family plants in KG-1a leukemic stem cells
title_sort anticancer and cancer preventive activities of shogaol and curcumin from zingiberaceae family plants in kg 1a leukemic stem cells
topic Zingiberaceae family
Cancer
Leukemia
Leukemia stem cell
Curcumin
Shogaol
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-04829-7
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