Antitumor and cytotoxic activity of ginger essential oil (Zingiber officinale roscoe)

Objective: To evaluate the cytotoxicty and antitumor activity of ginger essential oil (GEO). Methods: Cytotoxicity towards Dalton’s Lymphoma Ascites (DLA) and Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) cell lines were evaluated by trypan blue exclusion method. In vitro cytotoxicity of GEO to L929 cells in culture were checked by MTT assay. The antitumor activity of GEO was determined by using DLA cell line induced solid tumor and EAC cell line induced ascites tumor model in mice and its comparison with standard anticancer drug cyclophosphamide. Results: GEO showed potent in vitro cytotoxic activity against DLA and EAC cell lines. IC50 value for DLA cell line was 11 μg/ml and for EAC cell lines 18 μg/ml. The IC50of GEO was found to be 41 μg/ml against the L929 cell lines and to Vero cells was found to be ˃100 ug/ml. The treatment with GEO (500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg body weight) significantly reduced the volume of solid tumor development by 54.4% and 62.4% respectively. The life span was increased up to 50% in 1000 mg/kg b. wt GEO treated ascites tumor induced animals. Conclusion: This indicates the significant in vitro cytotoxic and antitumor properties of GEO suggesting its potential use as an anticancer agent.