Ginger (Zingiber officinale) and Black Pepper (Piper nigrum) Fixed Oil Sustain Hepatic and Renal Function: Insight From a Metabolic Disorder Rat Model

Abstract

We report hepatic and renal parameters affected by fixed oil from ginger (Zingiber officinale) and black pepper (Piper nigrum) in male Wistar rats. Dyslipidaemia (hyperlipidemia) and diabetes were induced by feeding 35% saturated fat for 30 days, followed by the administration of streptozotocin (28 mg/kg bw). Rats were grouped into: DD (dyslipidaemia with diabetes), DD + M + O [metformin (20 mg/kg bw) + orlistat (10 mg/kg bw)], DD + G-FO [ginger fixed oil (50 mg/kg bw)], DD + P-FO [black pepper fixed oil (50 mg/kg bw)] and control with 60-days feeding. The DD group had significantly elevated lipids (total cholesterol, LDL + VLDL cholesterol, and triglycerides), glycaemic parameters (FBS, insulin, HbA1c, and HOMA-IR), organ function enzyme markers (ALP, CK-MB, CK-NAC, SGOT, and SGPT) compared to control (p < 0.05), whereas experimental groups (DD + G-FO and DD + P-FO) showed a significant decrease compared to DD (p < 0.05). The hepatic levels of caspase-3, cytochrome c, and p53 were increased significantly in DD compared to the control and experimental groups (p < 0.05). Similarly, kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), in both serum and kidney, was significantly increased in DD compared to the control and experimental groups. The hepatic (bilirubin) and renal (urea, uric acid, and creatinine) markers were elevated significantly in DD compared to the control and experimental groups (p < 0.05). Liver and kidney histology indicated that DD enhanced lipid accumulation, resulting in tissue damage compared to the control and experimental groups. Thus, we established that fixed oil from ginger and black pepper sustained hepatic and renal function in metabolic abnormalities like hyperlipidemia and diabetes in the experimental rat model.