IDENTIFICATION OF PHYTOCHEMICALS OF GINGER AS EFFECTIVE IMMUNOMODULATOR USING GENE ENRICHMENT ANALYSIS

Abstract

Cancer is one of the most prevailing diseases across the globe. Despite the advancements in the multitude of therapies, we are unable to find an efficient, cheap and more precise treatment mechanism for multiple cancers. In order to handle cancer, an integrated strategy is required. Scientific knowledge has been developing, and this understanding is critical to the success of treating cancer. Many herbal and traditional components are now being researched to verify their ability to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Herbal medicines have been traditionally used for years for the cure of numerous diseases. Ayurveda is said to provide a new step on to the medical benefits of cancer in the form of characteristics seen in arbuda and granthi, two diseases described in the Sushrutha Samhita. So in this study, the treatment for cancer outlined in Ayurveda is discussed in an effort to identify the herbs used for therapy and having activity proved by experimentations. Ayurvedic pharmaceuticals found in the literature on cancer medications and those that are new to anticancer drug development were identified. All of these studies build upon centuries of ancient Ayurvedic research. Ginger is amongst the most utilised medicinal plants in food, beverages and medicine. Additionally, findings from trials using single and compound Ayurveda remedies that are intended to elucidate their anticancer activity further reinforce the notion that Ayurveda therapies are powered by science and not just a random approach. Although earlier studies have extensively shown anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activity, many of its phytochemicals have not been explored extensively which may be useful in combinatorial therapies. In the present study, using bioinformatic tools we have performed gene enrichment analysis using a gene set having all known genes with whom ginger phytochemicals interact and its validation using the experimental dataset from NCBI GEO. Thus, providing us with a better idea of the immuno-modulatory role of ginger along with its other previously known activities. Ginger phytochemicals were found to be interacting with a significant number of genes that are engaged in regulating pathways of immune responses like inflammatory responses, adaptive immune responses and apoptosis. Using this immunomodulatory property of ginger, it can be used in cancer treatment therapies, thus proving to be cheap and less damaging cancer therapy.