Ginger Modulates Lymphocyte Activity in Vitro and in Vivo and Modestly Prolongs Cardiac Allograft Survival

Abstract

Objectives: Ginger, an herb with diverse pharmacotherapeutic properties, is used as an anti-inflammatory agent in immunological disorders like rheumatoid arthritis. The objective of the present investigation was to study the effect of ginger on alloreactivity and on prolongation of cardiac allograft in mice.

Design: We tested the effect of ginger extract on lymphocytes in vitro and in vivo and the response of ginger treated lymphocytes to allostimulation and cytosine release. We also studied the effect of ginger extract on cardiac allograft survival in a non vascularized transplantation model in mice.

Results: We observed an immunosuppressive effect of ginger in vitro and in vivo. Ginger extract decreased lymphocyte proliferation in response to allostimulation. Ginger extract also decreased the production of the immunostimulatory cytokines IL-2, IL-4 and IFN-γ and increased the production of the immunomudulatory cytokines IL-10 and TGFβ1. Ginger extract by itself produced a modest increase in the survival of cardiac allografts in mice survival.

Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that ginger extract has immunosuppressive effects both in vitro on lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production and in vivo on allograft survival.

Submitted: August 31, 2006 · Accepted: February 10, 2007 · Published: November 26, 2007

Recommended Citation

Wilasrusmee, Chumpon; Kittur, Smita; Tripathi, Sudipta; Shah, Gaurang; Bruch, David; and Kittur, Dilip S. (2007) "Ginger Modulates Lymphocyte Activity in Vitro and in Vivo and Modestly Prolongs Cardiac Allograft Survival," Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine: Vol. 4 : Iss. 1, Article 12.
Available at: http://www.bepress.com/jcim/vol4/iss1/12