A Scoping Review of Dehydrozingerone in Preclinical Pharmacology: Activities, Dose Ranges and Toxicity

Dehydrozingerone, a phenolic compound derived from ginger, has been reported to possess diverse pharmacological activities. This scoping review systematically evaluates the pharmacological and toxicological effects of dehydrozingerone and its analogues across preclinical models, with a focus on dose ranges and safety profiles. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed and Scopus up to March 2024, supplemented by manual reference checks. Studies investigating the pharmacological or toxicological activities of dehydrozingerone or its analogues in vitro or in vivo were included. Two independent reviewers screened and selected studies based on predefined criteria, and data were extracted on experimental models, dosing regimens and reported outcomes. Fifty-eight experimental studies met the inclusion criteria, predominantly comprising in vitro investigations, with a smaller proportion of in vivo studies. Dehydrozingerone and its analogues demonstrated antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and other pharmacological effects. The most frequently studied in vivo dose was 30-100 mg/kg, with an upper safety threshold of 2000 mg/kg for single-compound oral administration. Toxicity data indicated a favourable safety profile in most preclinical models, although optimal dosages and efficacy varied across studies and experimental conditions. Dehydrozingerone and its analogues demonstrate promising preclinical effects, but inconsistent dosing and limited clinical data hinder translation. Standardised trials are needed to confirm efficacy and safety.