X-Message-Number: 30636
Date: Sat, 22 Mar 2008 14:19:39 -0800 (PST)
From: 
Subject: gingerol induces hypothermia in rats

**SPECULATION**

[The only real chance for radical life extension at present, is if a safe
and effective means for inducing stable mild hypothermia in humans were to
become available.]

Systemic administration of [6]-gingerol, a pungent constituent of ginger,
induces hypothermia in rats via an inhibitory effect on metabolic rate.
  Ueki S, Miyoshi M, Shido O, Hasegawa J, Watanabe T. Division of
Integrative Physiology, Department of Functional, Morphological and
Regulatory Science, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago, Tottori
683, Japan.
  We investigated the effects of systemic administrations of ginger
(Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Zingiberaceae) or its pungent constituent,
[6]-gingerol, on resting body temperature in rats. Rats given
ginger-containing rat chow for 5 days showed no changes in their day-night
cycle of body temperature or physical activity. However, a single
intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of [6]-gingerol (2.5 or 25 mg/kg) induced a
rapid, marked drop in body temperature in a dose-related manner, with no
change in physical activity. A significant decrease in metabolic rate was
observed immediately after an i.p. injection of [6]-gingerol (25 mg/kg),
although heat-loss responses underwent no alteration (versus vehicle). These
results suggest that in rats: (a) a decrease in metabolic rate is
responsible for the [6]-gingerol-induced hypothermia, and (b) [6]-gingerol
modulates or interferes with the mechanisms underlying body temperature
regulation, while other bioactive constituents of ginger may counteract the
hypothermic effect of [6]-gingerol.
PMID: 18295202

J Pharmacobiodyn. 1984 Nov;7(11):836-48.
Pharmacological studies on ginger. I. Pharmacological actions of pungent
constitutents, (6)-gingerol and (6)-shogaol.
  Suekawa M, Ishige A, Yuasa K, Sudo K, Aburada M, Hosoya E.
  General pharmacological studies were performed on (6)-gingerol and
(6)-shogaol which are the pungent constituents of ginger (Zingiber
officinale Roscoe). Intravenous (i.v.) administration of (6)-gingerol (at
1.75-3.5 mg/kg) or (6)-shogaol (at 1.75-3.5 mg/kg) and oral administration
of them (at 70-140 mg/kg) produced an inhibition of spontaneous motor
activity, an antipyretic and analgesic effects, prolonged
hexobarbital-induced sleeping time, and these effects of (6)-shogaol were
mostly more intensive than that of (6)-gingerol. (6)-Shogaol showed an
intense antitussive effect in comparison with dihydrocodeine phosphate. In
the electro-encephalogram of cortex, the low amplitude fast wave pattern was
observed for 5 min after i.v. administration of (6)-shogaol, and then
changed to the drowsy pattern, which was restored after 60 min. In the
gastro-intestinal system, (6)-shogaol intensively inhibited the traverse of
charcoal meal through the intestine in contrast with (6)-gingerol after i.v.
administration of 3.5 mg/kg, but (6)-shogaol facilitated such an intestinal
function after oral administration of 35 mg/kg. Both (6)-shogaol and
(6)-gingerol suppressed gastric contraction in situ, and the suppression by
the former was more intensive than that by the latter. In the cardiovascular
system, both (6)-shogaol and (6)-gingerol produced depressor response at
lower doses on the blood pressure. At high doses, both drugs produced three
phase pattern.
PMID: 6335723

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