Bitter ginger (Zingiber zerumbet) for patients with solid tumors with no treatment options: A pilot clinical study
Introduction: Zerumbone is a natural compound found in bitter ginger plants (Zingiber zerumbet) that shows antiproliferative, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties. We aimed to investigate the role of zerumbone in improving the quality of life and symptom control in cancer patient...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Complementary Therapies in Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229924000098 |
| _version_ | 1797334818100346880 |
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| author | Larissa Vieira de Queiroz José Favoreto Neto Fernando Luiz Affonso Fonseca Carlos Cleomir Pinheiro Auro del Giglio |
| author_facet | Larissa Vieira de Queiroz José Favoreto Neto Fernando Luiz Affonso Fonseca Carlos Cleomir Pinheiro Auro del Giglio |
| author_sort | Larissa Vieira de Queiroz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Zerumbone is a natural compound found in bitter ginger plants (Zingiber zerumbet) that shows antiproliferative, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties. We aimed to investigate the role of zerumbone in improving the quality of life and symptom control in cancer patients with no treatment options. Methods: We conducted a pilot, non-randomized, single-center, open prospective, and systematic study on the use of 400 mg of zerumbone twice a day. Results: The study included 35 patients (mean age, 68 years; 64% men), of which 16 completed the eight-week study. The intention-to-treat population showed no significant changes in weight or sleep quality over the eight-week study. Assessments performed using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) showed significant improvements in the quality of life in the global (p = 0.072), activity (p = 0.0393), social (p = 0.0001), and emotional (p = 0.0023) dimensions. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire scores showed significant improvement in anxiety (p = 0.032) and depression (p = 0.021), while the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) questionnaire scores also indicated a significant improvement (p = 0.001). Bitter ginger showed low toxicity. Conclusions: Bitter ginger showed promising results in improving the quality of life and reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression in the study population. A randomized placebo-controlled study is necessary to confirm these results.This trial was registered under the number FMABC: CAAE – 93459418.00000082, at ISRCTN (BIOMED CENTRAL) NUMBER 4388 (03/07/23) and at Plataforma Brasil (https://plataformabrasil.saude.gov.br/login.jsf) |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T08:26:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b458caa2fdc04079b0b49d42952254ed |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0965-2299 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T08:26:44Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Complementary Therapies in Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-b458caa2fdc04079b0b49d42952254ed2024-02-02T04:38:33ZengElsevierComplementary Therapies in Medicine0965-22992024-03-0180103021Bitter ginger (Zingiber zerumbet) for patients with solid tumors with no treatment options: A pilot clinical studyLarissa Vieira de Queiroz0José Favoreto Neto1Fernando Luiz Affonso Fonseca2Carlos Cleomir Pinheiro3Auro del Giglio4ABC Foundation School of Medicine, BrazilABC Foundation School of Medicine, BrazilABC Foundation School of Medicine, BrazilTitular Researcher at National Institute of Amazonian Research, INPA, BrazilABC Foundation School of Medicine, Brazil; Correspondence to: Rua Tupi 579/51, São Paulo Capital 01233-001, Brazil.Introduction: Zerumbone is a natural compound found in bitter ginger plants (Zingiber zerumbet) that shows antiproliferative, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties. We aimed to investigate the role of zerumbone in improving the quality of life and symptom control in cancer patients with no treatment options. Methods: We conducted a pilot, non-randomized, single-center, open prospective, and systematic study on the use of 400 mg of zerumbone twice a day. Results: The study included 35 patients (mean age, 68 years; 64% men), of which 16 completed the eight-week study. The intention-to-treat population showed no significant changes in weight or sleep quality over the eight-week study. Assessments performed using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) showed significant improvements in the quality of life in the global (p = 0.072), activity (p = 0.0393), social (p = 0.0001), and emotional (p = 0.0023) dimensions. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire scores showed significant improvement in anxiety (p = 0.032) and depression (p = 0.021), while the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) questionnaire scores also indicated a significant improvement (p = 0.001). Bitter ginger showed low toxicity. Conclusions: Bitter ginger showed promising results in improving the quality of life and reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression in the study population. A randomized placebo-controlled study is necessary to confirm these results.This trial was registered under the number FMABC: CAAE – 93459418.00000082, at ISRCTN (BIOMED CENTRAL) NUMBER 4388 (03/07/23) and at Plataforma Brasil (https://plataformabrasil.saude.gov.br/login.jsf)http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229924000098ZerumboneZingiber zerumbetPalliative care |
| spellingShingle | Larissa Vieira de Queiroz José Favoreto Neto Fernando Luiz Affonso Fonseca Carlos Cleomir Pinheiro Auro del Giglio Bitter ginger (Zingiber zerumbet) for patients with solid tumors with no treatment options: A pilot clinical study Complementary Therapies in Medicine Zerumbone Zingiber zerumbet Palliative care |
| title | Bitter ginger (Zingiber zerumbet) for patients with solid tumors with no treatment options: A pilot clinical study |
| title_full | Bitter ginger (Zingiber zerumbet) for patients with solid tumors with no treatment options: A pilot clinical study |
| title_fullStr | Bitter ginger (Zingiber zerumbet) for patients with solid tumors with no treatment options: A pilot clinical study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bitter ginger (Zingiber zerumbet) for patients with solid tumors with no treatment options: A pilot clinical study |
| title_short | Bitter ginger (Zingiber zerumbet) for patients with solid tumors with no treatment options: A pilot clinical study |
| title_sort | bitter ginger zingiber zerumbet for patients with solid tumors with no treatment options a pilot clinical study |
| topic | Zerumbone Zingiber zerumbet Palliative care |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229924000098 |
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