Ginger facilitates cell migration and heat tolerance in mouse fibroblast cells

The components of ginger root (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) are widely used for various medicinal purposes. Several bioactive compounds have been identified in ginger, including 6-, 8- and 10-gingerols, and 6-shogaol, which are agonists of the thermo-sensors transient receptor potential (TRP) cation channel subfamily V member 1 and TRP ankyrin 1. Our previous study demonstrated that ginger powder may affect human metabolism in vivo. However, the effects of the bioactive compounds of ginger on cells have not been completely elucidated. The present study investigated whether ginger powder extracts could modify cell functions in mouse fibroblast cells. The active components of ginger powder extracts were characterized using high-performance liquid chromatography. The activation of protein kinases, actin assembly, cell migration, expression levels of heat shock proteins (HSPs) and cell viability after heat shock were analyzed in NIH3T3 mouse fibroblast cells. Subsequently, 6-, 8-, 10- and 12-gingerols, as well as 6-, 8- and 10-shogaols, were detected in ginger powder extracts. The levels of phosphorylated Akt, mTOR, ERK and p38 MAPK increased after a 10-min stimulation with ginger powder extracts. In addition, HSP expression levels, lamellipodia formation occurring at cell edges, cell migration and tolerance against heat shock were facilitated following ginger powder extract stimulation. These results suggest that ginger modified cell functions, including actin assembly and heat tolerance, in vitro.