Functional protein-protein interaction networks regulated by 6-gingerol targeting stomach and small intestine

Ginger is widely used as a spice and traditional Chinese medicine achieving warming interior for dispelling cold during its long time clinical observations and practices. However, its mechanism is still obscure. In this study, interior is restricted to stomach and small intestine. 6-gingerol, ginger's quality control and main bio-active chemical compound, is chosen to represent ginger. Started with biomarkers reported in literatures. Functional protein-protein interactions (FPPI) from biomarkers to proteins expressed in stomach and small intestine were filtered out. These FPPIs form networks regulated by 6-gingerol targeting interior. Further enrichment analysis highlighted biological processes concentrated on metabolic regulations for more energy generation, metal ion transmembrane transporter activity for better digest, more blood flow volume for nutrient and warmth, and cell cycle regulation to prevent canceration. Taken together, ginger's warming up interior for cold expelling is elaborated via bioinformatics analysis on 6-gingerol.