Modulatory effect of Zingiber offinale on chemical-induced gastric mucosal damage and hepatotoxicity in rats

Evaluation of the hepatoprotective and anti-ulcerogenic properties of methanol extract of Zingiber officinale (MEZO) in rats was done. Twenty five adult male rats divided into five groups of five rats each were used for each of the studies. Groups, 2, 3 and 4 received varied dose levels of the extract (100, 200 and 400mg/kg), while groups 1 and 5 received normal saline and CCl4 (5 ml/kg)/ranitidine (100 mg/kg) respectively. Gastric ulceration was induced in the rats by the administration of indomethacin 50 mg/kg and aspirin 200 mg/kg thirty minutes after extract treatments, and the animals sacrificed 8 h later. Hepatotoxicity was induced by a single dose administration of CCl4 (5 ml/kg) after pre-treatment with MEZO for 8 days. Significant ulcer inhibition was produced in all the groups treated with MEZO. There was significant decreases (p<0.05) in the CCl4-induced elevations of liver enzymes, low density lipoprotein, total cholesterol and lipid peroxidation products in the serum of extract-treated rats when compared with the group treated with only CCl4. This study showed that methanol extract of Zingiber officinale (MEZO) possesses potent anti-ulcerogenic and hepatoprotective properties and can be used as herbal remedy for the treatment of gatro-intestinal ulcers and liver damage.