HomeIngredient6-Gingerol exerts a protective effect against hypoxic injury through the p38/Nrf2/HO-1 and p38/NF-κB pathway in H9c2 cells

6-Gingerol exerts a protective effect against hypoxic injury through the p38/Nrf2/HO-1 and p38/NF-κB pathway in H9c2 cells

March 5, 2022

J Nutr Biochem. 2022 Mar 1:108975. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2022.108975. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Ginger, one of the most widely consumed condiment for various foods and beverages, has many pharmacological effects. 6-gingerol, a naturally occurring phenol, is one of the major pungent constituents of ginger. The purpose of this study was to characterize the effect of 6-gingerol on the p38/Nrf2/HO-1 and p38/NF-κB signaling pathway, as a possible means of combating hypoxia-related oxidative stress. H9c2 cells were chemically induced with CoCl2 to mimic hypoxia-associated cellular damage. Cardiomyocyte injury was assessed by lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase. Reactive oxygen species production was assessed by 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate. The antioxidative property of 6-gingerol was measured by estimating the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione and glutathione disulfide. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry after Annexin V-FITC-propidium iodide double staining. Western blotting was used to evaluate levels of p-p38, p38, cytoplasm p65, nuclear p65, total p65, nuclear Nrf2, total Nrf2, Keap1, HIF-1α, and HO-1. 6-gingerol was able to counter hypoxia-induced cardiomyocyte injury as evidenced by inhibiting the levels of oxidative stress indexes and increasing the percentage of apoptosis. Furthermore, 6-gingerol was able to down-regulate p-p38/p38, nuclear p65, total p65 and Keap1 expression induced by CoCl2 stimulation and increased cytoplasm p65, nuclear Nrf2, total Nrf2, HO-1, and HIF-1α expression. However, treatment with specific Nrf2 inhibitor blunted the activation of Nrf2 signaling and removed the protective effects of 6-gingerol. These experiments provide evidence that 6-gingerol exerts cytoprotective effects, which may be associated with the regulation of oxidative stress and apoptosis, potentially through activating the Nrf2 pathway and inhibiting the p38/NF-κB pathways.

PMID:35245652 | DOI:10.1016/j.jnutbio.2022.108975

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Patrick Blanchard MD

Meet Dr. Blanchard Dr. Blanchard’s medical practice is an embodiment of Integrative health which brings conventional and complementary approaches together in a coordinated way. Conveniently located in sunny Florida and over the internet with ValiseMD’s secure HIPPA compliant telXmed servers. Since 1994, patients with a wide range of challenging medical problems have achieved optimum health using the best of natural medicine, judiciously combined with high-tech innovations. Breakthroughs are often achieved even after patients have consulted mainstream specialists and holistic practitioners. Dr. Blanchard is founder and CEO of ValiseMD, Inc. He is board certified in Family Medicine since 1994 and awarded Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians in 2001. He received the ‘Teacher of the Year’ award from the University of Kansas School of Medicine at completion of his residency in Family Medicine. He completed a fellowship at Wake Forest University in the field of vascular neurosonology. He holds a medical patent in the field of Gastroenterology. He holds an unrestricted license to practice medicine and surgery in Florida. He started his medical career as a Emergency Medical Technician, then as a Paramedic and later a Medical Doctor.