Abstract

GOMEZ-RODRIGUEZ, Banely Trinidad; CORTES SUAREZ, Saúl  and  IZQUIERDO-SANCHEZ, Teresa. Effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Ginger) in the model of hepatotoxicity in rats. Rev Cubana Plant Med [online]. 2013, vol.18, n.3, pp. 431-444. ISSN 1028-4796.

Introduction: rhizomes of Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Ginger) have strong antioxidant activity as free-radical trapper and protection against lipid peroxidation in vivo and in vitro models, from its main bioactive compounds. Objectives: to evaluate the effect of a hydroalcoholic extract of Zingiber officinalis in the model of hepatotoxicity after acetaminophen overdose in rats. Methods: a macerated hydroalcoholic extract was prepared (70 % v:v) from the fresh rhizome of Zingiber officinale.42 male Wistar albino rats (180-200 g) of weight were randomly distributed in seven groups (n= 6). Four groups were administrated with hydroalcoholic extract doses orally (20.08, 54.58, 148.4 y 244.69 mg/kg) in a pre-treatment for eight consecutive days. In the eighth group, intraperitoneal acetaminophen (750 mg/kg) was administered. Other treatment group received N-acetyl-cysteine (1 200 mg/kg) as a single dose and acetaminophen, and the control group only received an overdose of acetaminophen. Serum samples were obtained for each group to quantify the alanine amino transferase and aspartate amino transferase enzymes. A histopathological examination of the liver was performed for all groups. Results: ethanolic ginger extracts reduced serum levels of the hepatic enzymes in a dose-dependent manner. Reduction by 244.6 mg/kg dose of alanine amino transferase (54.3 %) and aspartate amino transferase (55.5 %) was comparable to N-acetyl-cysteine (45.5 %), the effect was significantly (p< 0.01) compared with the control group with hepatic damage induced by acetaminophen. Histopathological assessment of liver tissue damage showed differences as compared with the protective profile in the groups. Conclusions: these findings outline the hepatoprotective activity of ginger extract against hepatotoxicity after acetaminophen overdose, in a dose-dependent manner. Concomitantly, intake of ginger in rats normalized the host liver enzymes related to the detoxificant activity of xenobiotic compounds, providing a better antioxidant-cytoprotector status.

Keywords : hydroalcoholic extract; paracetamol overdose; antioxidative activity; hepatoprotective activity; ginger; Zingiber officinale.

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