6-Gingerol, a naturally occurring plant phenol, is one of the major pharmacologically active components of fresh ginger (Zingiber officinale). In the present study, we have tested 5, 10, and 20 mM of gingerol against 60 mM of Methyl Methanesulphonate (MMS) induced genotoxic damage in the presence as well as absence of metabolic activation system (S9 mix). The experiments were performed using Sister Chromatid Exchanges (SCEs) and Chromosomal Aberrations (CAs) as parameters in cultured human lymphocytes. Gingerol was found to reduce the genotoxic damage both in the presence as well as absence of S9 mix for all the tested doses. The results of the present study show that gingerol could reduce the genotoxic damage induced by methyl methanesulphonate.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale, Roscoe, Zingiberaceae) is a Southern Asian plant cultivated in the tropics. The root of ginger called rhizome is used for culinary and medicinal purposes (Huang et al., 1990). It has carminative, diaphoretic and antispasmodic properties. Its intake reduces clotting, cholesterol and blood pressure. It is anti-inflammatory, and helpful in controlling nausea, and has tonic effect in digestion. Extracts of groups have antioxidant activity through scavenging of superoxide and hydroxyl radicals and by inhibiting lipid peroxidation (Kikuzaki and Nakatani, 1993). It is antibacterial and antifungal and is used for common cold (Bode et al., 2001).

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