IMC Journal of Medical Science https://www.imcjms.com/ Ibrahim Medical College Journal of Medical Science <![CDATA[Anti-hyperlipidemic action of Zingiber officinale (Ginger) juice in alloxan induced diabetic rats]]> Selima SultanaShakil AkterMd. Ismail Khan https://www.imcjms.com/registration/journal_full_text/224 2017-06-04 12:47:33 Original Article Ibrahim Med. Coll. J. 2012; 6(2): 55-58 7 mmol/l on day 5 (72 hrs after alloxan Inj.) were considered diabetic and selected for experimentation. Both non-diabetic and diabetic treated groups (Gr II & IV) received Zingiber officinale (ginger) juice (4 ml Kg–1 b.w., p.o.) for 10 days (day 2-day 11) through Ryles tube. On Day 12, animals were sacrificed under light ether anaesthesia, blood was collected by cardiac puncture and serum separated for estimation of lipids. The results suggest a significant anti-hyperlipidemic action of Zingiber officinale (ginger) juice in alloxan induced diabetic rats. The findings may be clinically significant and exploited. Address for Correspondence: Dr. Selima Sultana, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Ad-din Women’s Medical College, 2 Bara Magbazar, Dhaka-1217, e-mail: ark_udd@yahoo.com   Cardiovascular diseases (coronary artery diseases, strokes and peripheral vascular diseases) constitute the major causes of morbidity and mortality in diabetes mellitus. Diabetic individuals have 2-4 times increased risk of clinical atherosclerotic diseases.1 Hyperlipidemia is one of the most important modifiable risk factors contributing to atherosclerosis in diabetes and may be the result of unbalanced metabolic status of diabetes namely hyperlipidemia and insulin resistance.2 The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of fresh ginger juice on lipid profile (hyperlipidemia) in alloxan induced diabetic rats compared to non-diabetic controls. Materials and Methods   The fresh rhizome of Z. officinale (ginger) was obtained from local market. 1 Kg of fresh rhizome were crushed, then squeezed in muslin cloth to obtain the juice using the method of Akhain et al.4 Sodium benzoate (0.5%) was added as preservative. The juice was stored in the refrigerator at 2-80C in a well-closed glass container. Animals   After 24 hrs fasting, rats (group III & IV) were injected alloxan 150 mg Kg–1 b.w.ip on Day 2 of the study. Fasting blood glucose levels were estimated on Day 1 (before Inj. alloxan), on Day 5 (72 hrs after Inj. alloxan) and on Day 12 of the experimental study. Blood glucose was estimated by placing a test strip in the glucometer (ACCU-CHEK, Roche diagnostic GmbH). A drop of blood was collected by asceptically cutting the tail at the tip (0.1 cm) with shrap sterile blade and then applying the drop of blood to the test area of the strip. Rats with blood glucose of >7 mmol/l on Day 5 (i.e 72 hrs after Inj. alloxan) were considered diabetic and selected for experimentation. Experimental design   The results are presented as mean±SD. Unpaired ‘t’ test was performed and p value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results i.   The mean±SD of blood glucose (mmol/l), in normal (non-diabetic) rats (group I) on day 2 and day 12 of the study were 5.40±0.76 and 5.45±0.76 respectively, while in normal (non-diabetic) treated (ginger juice 4 ml Kg–1 b.w. for 10 days) rats (group II) were 5.45±0.76 and 5.47±0.59 respectively. The differences between two group (I vs II) were not statistically significant (p <0.05) suggesting that ginger juice did not lower blood glucose level in normal (non-diabetic) rats. iii.The mean±SD of blood glucose (mmol/l), of diabetic control rats (group III) and of diabetic treated (ginger juice 4 ml Kg–1 b.w. for 10 days) rats (group IV) on day 12 of the study were 8.52±0.68 and 7.52±0.42 respectively. The differences between two groups (III vs IV) were statistically significant (p <0.01) suggesting that treatment of diabetic rats with ginger juice produced significant decrease in blood glucose level. Table-1: Effects of Zingiber officinale (ginger) juice on lipid profile in normal (non-diabetic) rats   i.   Effect of Zingiber officinale (ginger) juice on lipid profile in normal (non-diabetic) rats ii.  Effect of Zingiber officinale (ginger) juice on lipid profile in diabetic rats      The results are shown in Table-2. Table-2: Effect of Zingiber officinale (ginger) juice on lipid profile in diabetic rats   The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of Zingiber officinale (ginger) juice on lipid profile in alloxan induced diabetic rats compared to normal non-diabetic controls. Injection of alloxan   (150 mg Kg–1 b.w,i.p) produced marked hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia (increased Tol. chol, LDL-chol & TG and decreased HDL-chol). Treatment with Zingiber officinale (ginger) juice (4 ml Kg–1 b.w, p.o) for 10 days to alloxan induced diabetic rats produced significant blood glucose and lipid lowering (decreased Tol. chol, LDL-chol & TG and increased HDL-chol) effects. However treatment of ginger juice for 10 days to normal non-diabetic rats did not produce significant lipid lowering effects; thus suggesting a significant anti-hyperlipidemic action for Zingiber officinale (ginger) juice in alloxan induced diabetic rats. The results are in agreement with those of previous studies2,5,6,8 who showed similar lipid lowering effects of Z. officinale in different experimental animal models.   1.   Nathan DM, Meigs J, Singer DE. The epidemiology of cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Lancet 1997; 350(1): SI4-9. 3.   Bhandari U, Grover JK. Effect of ethanolic extract of ginger on hyperglycemic rats. Int. J. Diabetes 1998; 6: 95-96. 5.   Fuhrman B, Rosenblat M, Hayek T, Coleman R, Aviram M. Z. officinale extract consumption reduces plasma cholesterol, inhibits LDL oxidation and attenutes development of atherosclesosis in atheroscherotic, apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. J. Nutr 2000; 130: 1124-1131. 7.   Park KK, Chun KS, Lee JM, Lee SS, Surh YJ. Inhibitory effects of 6-gngerol, a major pungent principle of ginger on phorhol ester-induced inflammation, epidermal ornithine decarboxylase activity and skin tumor promotion in ICR mice. Cancer Letters 1998; 129: 139-144. 9.   Katiyar SK, Agarwal R, Mukhtae H. Inhibition of tumor promotion in SENCAR mouse skin by ethanol extract of Zingiber officinale rhizome. Cancer Research 1996; 56: 1023-1030.]]> 2024 Ibrahim Medical College. All rights reserved.