AIM: To investigate the effect of gingerol on colonic motility and the action of L-type calcium channel currents in this process.METHODS: The distal colon was cut along the mesenteric border and cleaned with Ca~(2+)-free physiological saline solution. Muscle strips were removed and placed in Ca~(2+)-free physiological saline solution, which was oxygenated continuously. Longitudinal smooth muscle samples were prepared by cutting along the muscle strips and were then placed in a chamber. Mechanical contractile activities of isolated colonic segments in rats were recorded by a 4-channel physiograph. Colon smooth muscle cells were dissociated by enzymatic digestion. L-type calcium currents were recorded using the conventional whole-cell patch-clamp technique.RESULTS: Gingerol inhibited the spontaneous contraction of colonic longitudinal smooth muscle in a dose-dependent manner with inhibition percentages of 13.3% ± 4.1%, 43.4% ± 3.9%, 78.2% ± 3.6% and 80.5% ± 4.5% at 25 μmol/L, 50 μmol/L, 75 μmol/L and 100 μmol/L, respectively(P < 0.01). Nifedipine, an L-type calcium channel blocker, diminished the inhibition of colonic motility by gingerol. Gingerol inhibited L-type calcium channel currents in colonic longitudinal myocytes of rats. At a 75 μmol/L concentration of gingerol, the percentage of gingerolinduced inhibition was diminished by nifedipine from 77.1% ± 4.2% to 42.6% ± 3.6%(P < 0.01). Gingerol suppressed IBa in a dose-dependent manner, and the inhibition rates were 22.7% ± 2.38%, 35.77% ± 3.14%, 49.78% ± 3.48% and 53.78% ± 4.16% of control at 0 m V, respectively, at concentrations of 25 μmol/L, 50 μmol/L, 75 μmol/L and 100 μmol/L(P < 0.01). The steady-state activation curve was shifted to the right by treatment with gingerol. The value of half activation was-14.23 ± 1.12 m V in the control group and-10.56 ± 1.04 m V in the 75 μmol/L group(P < 0.05) with slope factors, Ks, of 7.16 ± 0.84 and 7.02 ± 0.93(P < 0.05) in the control and 75 μmol/L groups, respectively. However, the steady-state inactivation curve was not changed, with a half-inactivation voltage, 0.5 V, of-27.43 ± 1.26 m V in the control group and-26.56 ± 1.53 m V in the 75 μmol/L gingerol group(P > 0.05), and a slope factor, K, of 13.24 ± 1.62 in the control group and 13.45 ± 1.68(P > 0.05) in the 75 μmol/L gingerol group.CONCLUSION: Gingerol inhibits colonic motility by preventing Ca~(2+) influx through L-type calcium channels.