Biochemical effect of aqueous extract of Zingiberofficinale on hyperlipidemic rats

Abstract

Objectives: The present study was performed to investigate the effect of aqueous extract of ginger on hypercholesterolemic rats.Methods: A total forty male rats were randomly divided into four groups (10 rats/ each). Control rats were fed basal ration and water ad libitum, hyperlipidemic rats were administeredTriton WR-1339 at dose of 250 mg i.p/kg b.wt (three times/week), ginger-treated rats were fed orally on ginger aqueous extract at dose of 400 mg/kg b.wt, and the forth groupwhere the rats treated with aqueous extract of ginger before induction of hyperlipidemia for three weeks. Blood sample were collected from all groups and serum was separated for biochemical analysis. Results: The data obtained revealed that hyperlipidemic rats had a drastic increase in serum total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TAG), very low density lipoprotein (vLDL-c), low density lipoprotein (LDL-c) and total lipid levels while, they had marked decrease in serum high density lipoprotein (HDL-c) level suggesting increased atherogenic indices. Also, hyperlipidemia caused significant increase in serum testosterone, progesterone, estradiol, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) levels, aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK-MB) activities and troponin-I level with decrease in serum sodium level. Administration of ginger to hyperlipidemic rats reduced serum TC,TAG, VLDL,LDL-c and total lipid levels whileHDL-c was non-significant differed. Furthermore, ALT, AST, ALP, LDH and CK-MB activities and troponin-I level were significantly decreased while serum male sex hormones and thyroid hormones were increased following treatment of ginger. Conclusions: It was concluded that ginger had a protective effect against hyperlipidemia in rats.