Effects of Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) Aqueous Extract on the Levels of Hepatic Enzymes, Biochemical Parameters, and Histological Changes in Male Wistar Strain Rats Following Treatment with Streptozotocin

Diabetes induces leakage of hepatic enzymes from cytosol into the circulation and increases the plasma levels of these enzymes. In this study, the impacts of ginger (Zingiber Officinale) aqueous extract on the levels of liver enzymes, biochemical parameters, and histological changes in male rats were assessed following induction of diabetes by Streptozotocin.
42 male Wistar rats were divided into 6 groups: the control (left untreated), diabetic control (received 70 mg/kg Streptozotocin once at the beginning of the experiment), the experimental groups 1 and 2 (daily received 250 and 500 mg/kg ginger aqueous extract, respectively), the experimental groups 3 and 4 (first received streptozotocin once, and then a daily dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg extract). Oral administration of aqueous extract continued over a period of two months. 48 hours after the last administration, blood samples were prepared and used for measurement of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and serum levels of albumin and total protein. Also, hepatic histological study was carried out in hematoxylin-eosin staining method.
Findings: The serum levels of AST, ALT, and ALK enzymes in diabetic control group (recipient of 70mg/kg Streptozotocin) and the AST enzyme concentration in experimental group 2 (recipient of 500 mg/kg Ginger extract alone) increased significantly compared to the control group (pDiscussion & Due to the presence of compounds such as gingerol, shoagol, and anthocyanins, ginger aqueous extract can possibly reduce hepatic toxicity caused by streptozotocin and improve the serum levels of liver enzymes.