Evaluation of Anticancer Effect of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) and Garlic (Allium sativum) Extracts on Breast Cancer in BALB/c Mice

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women. Garlic and ginger have been widely studied as antioxidant agents. In this study, we investigated the combined effect of garlic and ginger on BALB/c mice with breast cancer.

Breast tumor–bearing female mice were divided into 7 groups: 1 group receiving normal saline, 2 groups receiving different doses of ginger extract (100 and 500 mg/kg), 2 groups receiving garlic extract (50 and 100 mg/kg), 1 group receiving tamoxifen (10 mg/kg), and 1 group receiving garlic (100 mg/kg) and ginger (500 mg/kg) together. The treatments were administered intraperitoneally for 3 weeks. After this period, the size of tumor, glutathione transferase levels, and expression of ABCG2 and SPARC genes were measured.

Tumor size significantly decreased in all groups. The level of glutathione transferase increased in all groups, and this increase was significant except in the groups receiving garlic and ginger at a dose of 100 mg/kg. The expression of SPARC, a biomarker for cancer, was significantly reduced in all groups. The expression of ABCG2, encoding the breast cancer resistance protein, decreased in all groups, and this decrease was significant in groups receiving garlic at 50 mg/kg and tamoxifen.

Garlic and ginger can be useful in the treatment of cancer. This anticancer action is probably mediated through the antioxidant mechanism and inhibition of the expression of genes responsible for drug resistance in cancer. The simultaneous use of garlic and ginger did not produce a synergistic effect. Therefore, further studies are needed to determine the required doses as well as the mechanisms of this action.