Induction of apoptosis by [8]-shogaol via reactive oxygen species generation, glutathione depletion, and caspase activation in human leukemia cells.

Ginger, the rhizome of Zingiber officinale , is a traditional medicine with a carminative effect and antinausea, anti-inflammatory, and anticarcinogenic properties. This study examined the growth inhibitory effects of [8]-shogaol, one of the pungent phenolic compounds in ginger, on human leukemia HL-60 cells. It demonstrated that [8]-shogaol was able to induce apoptosis in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Treatment with [8]-shogaol caused a rapid loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, stimulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, release of mitochondrial cytochrome c into cytosol, and subsequent induction of procaspase-9 and procaspase-3 processing. Taken together, these results suggest for the first time that ROS production and depletion of glutathione that contributed to [8]-shogaol-induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells.