6-Gingerol, an active pungent component of ginger, inhibits L-type Ca current, contractility, and Ca transients in isolated rat ventricular myocytes.

Ginger has been widely used as a flavor, food, and traditional medicine for centuries. 6-Gingerol (6-Gin) is the active components of ginger and offers some beneficial effects on cardiovascular diseases. Here, the effects of 6-Gin on L-type Ca current (I), contractility, and the Ca transients of rat cardiomyocytes, were investigated via patch-clamp technique and the Ion Optix system.