The Role of Crude Ethanol Extract of Ginger Rhizome (Zingiber Officinale) on the Liver Biomarkers of CCl4 –Induced Hepatotoxicity in Male Wistar Albino Rats.

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Date

2012-06

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Addis Ababa University

Abstract

Introduction: Liver, an imperative organ has a crucial role in the metabolism of xenobiotics that causes it to succumb to numerous hepatic diseases. Synthetic drugs exploited in the treatment of liver diseases are incompetent and may sometimes lead to serious side-effects. In this context, herbal therapy has emerged as a proficient approach with good values in treating hepatic diseases. Ginger have been proven to be effectual as hepatoprotective agent and it may serve as a vital source of potentially useful new compounds for the development of effective therapy to combat a variety of liver problems caused by many toxins including carbon tetrachloride. Objectives: The present study was designed to explore the role of crude ethanol extract of ginger rhizome on the biomarkers of CCl induced hepatotoxicity in male Wistar albino rats. Methods: Twenty eight rats were used throughout the study. Rats were divided into four groups with seven in each. Group 1 (normal control) received 1mL/kg of corn oil, group 2 (standards) received 350mg/kg vitamin E, group 3 (treated) received 200mg/kg crud ginger extract, group 4 (negative control) received 0.5mL/kg CCl 4 4 . Liver toxicity was induced by intraperitoneal administration of CCl dissolved in 1mL corn oil at a dose of 0.5mL /Kg body weight. Administration of crude ethanol ginger extract at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight was started a week after CCl treatment and was performed for five weeks (totally six weeks). Results: The results revealed that hepatotoxic rats supplemented with 200mg/kg showed a significant decrease in MDA, ALT and TP with the same p-value (p<0.01) and AST (p<0.001) as compared to negative control. ALP (p<0.01), DB (p<0.05) and TB (p<0.001) in treated groups compared to the negative control, but no significant difference was observed in treated, normal and the standards. Serum TC, LDL-c, and TG were increased significantly (P<0.05) in CCl 4 treated group, while HDL-c level was decreased significantly compared to the rest of the groups. In ginger treated group, the serum levels of TC, LDL-c, and TG were significantly (p<0.001) decreased, but HDL-c was significantly (p<0.05) higher than negative control. Serum levels of TC, LDL-c, and TG in standards were decreased significantly (P<0.001), but HDL-c increased none significantly compared to negative control. The levels of TC, LDLc, HDL-c, and TG in treated group were non-significantly different compared to the normal control and the standards. Conclusion: The study revealed that ginger rhizome showed a promising hepatoprotective effect, because it contains antioxidants and potent lipid lowering phytoconstituents. Despite the above, further study is recommended to investigate the active ingredients of the extract and their exact mechanism of action.

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Keywords

Zingiber officinale; hepatoprotective; antioxidant; carbon tetrachloride, MDA, Liver function enzymes, lipid profiles.

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