The efficacy of ginger for treating chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in patients with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
By: Min Li, Qianjun Li, Xuecheng Zeng, Misbah Ullah Khan and Wei Cai
References
- Gupta K, Walton R, Kataria SP. Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: pathogenesis, recommendations, and new trends. Cancer Treat Res Commun. 2021; 26:100278.
- Aapro M, Scotté F, Escobar Y, Celio L, Berman R, Franceschetti A, et al. Practice patterns for prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and antiemetic guideline adherence based on real-world prescribing data. Oncologist. 2021; 26:e1073–82.
- Chow R, Yin LB, Baqri W, Huang R, Boldt G, Younus J, et al. Prevalence and predictors of long-delayed (>120 h) chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV)–a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis. Support Care Cancer. 2023; 31:505.
- Mosa ASM, Hossain AM, Lavoie BJ, Yoo I. Patient-related risk factors for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a systematic review. Front Pharmacol. 2020; 11:329. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2020.00329
- Dai Y, Zhao Y, Nie K. The antiemetic mechanisms of gingerols against chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2022; 2022:1753430. doi: 10.1155/2022/1753430
- Zhu W, Dai Y, Huang M, Li J. Efficacy of ginger in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Nurs Scholarsh. 2021; 53:671–9.
- Li Z, Wu J, Song J, Wen Y. Ginger for treating nausea and vomiting: an overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2024; 75:122–33.
- Ansari M, Porouhan P, Mohammadianpanah M, Omidvari S, Mosalaei A, Ahmadloo N, et al. Efficacy of ginger in control of chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting in breast cancer patients receiving doxorubicin-based chemotherapy. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2016; 17:3877–80.
- Bossi P, Cortinovis D, Fatigoni S, Cossu Rocca M, Fabi A, Seminara P, et al. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study of a ginger extract in the management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in patients receiving high-dose cisplatin. Ann Oncol. 2017; 28:2547–51.
- Zick SM, Ruffin MT, Lee J, Normolle DP, Siden R, Alrawi S, et al. Phase II trial of encapsulated ginger as a treatment for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Support Care Cancer. 2009; 17:563–72.
- Manusirivithaya S, Sripramote M, Tangjitgamol S, Sheanakul C, Leelahakorn S, Thavaramara T, et al. Antiemetic effect of ginger in gynecologic oncology patients receiving cisplatin. Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2004; 14:1063–9.
- Pillai AK, Sharma KK, Gupta YK, Bakhshi S. Anti-emetic effect of ginger powder versus placebo as an add-on therapy in children and young adults receiving high emetogenic chemotherapy. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2011; 56:234–8.
- Shokri F, Gharebaghi PM, Esfahani A, Sayyah-Melli M, Jafari Shobeiri M, Ouladsahebmadarek E, et al. Comparison of the complications of platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy with and without ginger in a pilot study on ovarian cancer patients. Int J Womens Health Reprod Sci. 2017; 5:324–31.
- Choi J, Lee J, Kim K, Choi HK, Lee SA, Lee HJ. Effects of ginger intake on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Nutrients. 2022; 14:4982. doi: 10.3390/nu14234982
- Lin CY, Huang SH, Tam KW, Huang TW, Gautama MSN. Efficacy and safety of ginger on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Cancer Nurs. 2025; 48:455–66.
- Page MJ, McKenzie JE, Bossuyt PM, Boutron I, Hoffmann TC, Mulrow CD, et al. The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ. 2021; 372:n71. doi: 10.1136/bmj.n71
- Sterne JAC, Savović J, Page MJ, Elbers RG, Blencowe NS, Boutron I, et al. RoB 2: a revised tool for assessing risk of bias in randomised trials. BMJ. 2019; 366:l4898. doi: 10.1136/bmj.l4898
- Kadhim RA, Ali BM, Kadhim MA, Mohammed SJ. Effect of ginger tea on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting among patients attending the Oncology Teaching Hospital, Baghdad 2020. Indian J Forensic Med Toxicol. 2021; 15:1463–70.
- Panahi Y, Saadat A, Sahebkar A, Hashemian F, Taghikhani M, Abolhasani E. Effect of ginger on acute and delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a pilot, randomized, open-label clinical trial. Integr Cancer Ther. 2012; 11:204–11.
- Crichton M, Marshall S, Isenring E, Lohning A, McCarthy AL, Molassiotis A, et al. Effect of a standardized ginger root powder regimen on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2024; 124:313–330.e6.
- Fahimi F, Khodadad K, Amini S, Naghibi F, Salamzadeh J, Baniasadi S. Evaluating the effect of Zingiber officinalis on nausea and vomiting in patients receiving cisplatin based regimens. Iran J Pharm Res. 2011; 10:379–84.
- Konmun J, Danwilai K, Ngamphaiboon N, Sripanidkulchai B, Sookprasert A, Subongkot S. A phase II randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study of 6-gingerol as an anti-emetic in solid tumor patients receiving moderately to highly emetogenic chemotherapy. Med Oncol. 2017; 34:69. doi: 10.1007/s12032-017-0931-4
- Li X, Qin Y, Liu W, Zhou XY, Li YN, Wang LY. Efficacy of ginger in ameliorating acute and delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting among patients with lung cancer receiving cisplatin-based regimens: a randomized controlled trial. Integr Cancer Ther. 2018; 17:747–54.
- Uthaipaisanwong A, Oranratanaphan S, Musigavong N. Effects of ginger adjunct to the standard prophylaxis on reducing carboplatin and paclitaxel-induced nausea vomiting: a randomized controlled study. Support Care Cancer. 2020; 28:3831–8.
- Marx W, Ried K, McCarthy AL, Vitetta L, Sali A, McKavanagh D, et al. Ginger–mechanism of action in chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a review. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2017; 57:141–6.
- Natale JJ. Overview of the prevention and management of CINV. Am J Manag Care. 2018; 24(Suppl 18):S391–S397.
- Daubner SC, Le T, Wang S. Tyrosine hydroxylase and regulation of dopamine synthesis. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2011; 508:1–12.
- Wu CT, Liao JM, Ko JL, Lee YL, Chang HY, Wu CH, et al. D-Methionine ameliorates cisplatin-induced muscle atrophy via inhibition of muscle degradation pathway. Integr Cancer Ther. 2019; 18:1534735419828832. doi: 10.1177/1534735419828832
- Kim SD, Kwag EB, Yang MX, Yoo HS. Efficacy and safety of ginger on the side effects of chemotherapy in breast cancer patients: systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Mol Sci. 2022; 23:11267.
Language: English
Page range: 272 - 290
Published on: Aug 31, 2026
Published by: Chulalongkorn University
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Related subjects:
© 2026 Min Li, Qianjun Li, Xuecheng Zeng, Misbah Ullah Khan, Wei Cai, published by Chulalongkorn University
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.