Abstract
Plants synthesize various secondary metabolites which play crucial roles in their adaptation to environmental stresses. These phytochemicals have been clarified to possess potentials for regulating mammalian physiological functions. Recently, their target molecules in mammals have been intensively studied. Zerumbone, a sesquiterpene occurring in Zingiber zerumbet Smith, is a promising chemopreventive agent which has various bioactivities including anti-inflammatory and detoxifying effects. This phytochemical suppresses the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 via a post-transcriptional mechanism and induces phase 2 detoxification enzymes. Our in vitro study with zerumbone-bound Sepharose revealed that it covalently binds to AU-rich element-binding proteins and Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 which are essential for those bioactivities. This review article describes versatile bioactivities of zerumbone, and highlights its target molecules.
