A type of ginger native to Southeast Asia has anti-cancer properties, a new study reveals.

What it is: This ginger is called kencur (Kaempferia galanga L.), which is typically used as a spice or prepared as herbal tea. It has a peppery and camphorous scent.

What it does: Researchers from Japan’s Osaka Metropolitan University found that kencur extract and its main active component, ethyl p-methoxycinnamate (EMC), can significantly suppress the growth of cancer cells in cellular and animal experiments. EMC is known to decrease the expression of mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), which is linked to the proliferation of cancer cells.

Additionally, the researchers observed that kencur might induce anti-proliferative effects without cytotoxicity to normal cells. This makes it a promising candidate for further study as a safer anti-cancer agent.

What researchers are saying: The study confirms kencur’s anti-cancer properties, the researchers said. However, further research is needed, including clinical trials.

“The results of this study confirm the anti-cancer effects of Kencur extract and its main active ingredient, EMC,” lead author Akiko Kijima said in a statement. “It is highly expected that TFAM will become a new marker for anti-cancer effects in the future as research advances in related fields.”

The study was published in the journal Heliyon.