Evaluation of Hepatoprotective Impact of Ginger Extract Against Paracetamol-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Albino Rats

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Pharmacology Dept., Fac. Vet. Med., Zagazig University, Egypt.

2 Pharmacology Dept., Fac. Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt.

3 Directorate of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig, Egypt.

Abstract

The study was designed to assess the antioxidant and the hepatoprotective impact of ginger against paracetamol-induced liver damage in male albino rats. Rats were partitioned into six equal groups (n = 5). Control group rats were given normal saline (1 ml/kg b.wt) for 15 days orally by stomach tube. Silymarin group rats were orally adminstered silymarin (200 mg/kg b.wt) by stomach tube for 15 days. Ginger group rats were received ginger extract (200 mg/kg b.wt) orally by stomach tube for 15 days. Paracetamol group rats were given paracetamol orally (500 mg/kg b.wt) by stomach tube for the last five days of the experiment. Silymarin + paracetamol group rats orally pretreated with silymarin for ten days followed by silymarin with paracetamol simultaneously for the last five days and lastly ginger + paracetamol group rats orally received ginger for ten days followed by ginger simultaneously with paracetamol for the last five days. On the 16th day of investigation, the animals sacrificed, serum and liver tissues were preserved for measuring the activities of liver enzymes, beside the levels of total bilirubin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), lactate dehydrogenase activity (LDH) and hepatic oxidant/antioxidant status. The liver injury initiated by paracetamol manifested by significant increase in liver marker enzymes including alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) also it produced a significant increase in serum total bilirubin, TNF-α level and LDH enzyme activity. Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration was significantly increased in liver tissue of rats received paracetamol, while the concentration of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were significantly decreased. The alteration in all previous parameters was modified by pretreatment with silymarin and ginger. Histopathological examination of liver induced disturbed liver functions in paracetamol treated rats but restored to nearly normal picture by pretreatment with silymarin and ginger. The findings proved that the administration of ginger improved the hepatotoxic effect of paracetamol in rats.
 

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