In human colon cancer cells, 6-shogaol increased intracellular glutathione/glutathione disulfide (GSH/GSSG) and upregulated Nrf2 target gene expression, such as with heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), metallothionein 1 (MT1), aldo-keto reductase family 1 member B10 (AKR1B10), ferritin light chain (FTL), and γ-glutamyltransferase-like activity 4 (GGTLA4). The gene discussed is HMOX1; the disease is malignant colon neoplasm.