Effect of Zingiber officinale (Ginger) Extract on Acetaminophen- Induced Hepatotoxicity in Mice

Abstract

Objective: To evlalate hepatoprotective effects of Zingiber officinale extract against acetaminopheninduced hepatotoxicity. Methods: B. preparation of Zingiber officinale extract. Maceration Method: In this method fresh ginger rhizome was cut into small peices, dried and then pulverized into coarse powder and weighing about 400 g of powder. It was macerated in 1000 ml hydroalcoholic solution (70%) Ethanol, 30% distilled water) for seventy two hours. The extract was then shaked, filtered by using filter paper and the solution was evaporated in a rotatory evaporator under reduced pressure until dryness. In this experiment mice of either sex weighing 25-30g were divided into three groups, each consisting of seven mice. The animals were fasted for twelve hours prior to the experiment with free access to water. 1. Control group: given normal saline containing 0.5 % Tween-80 (orally) in a dose of 1ml each mice. 2. Extract group: given hydroalcoholic extract of ginger in a dose of (300mg/kg ip) for 14 days followed by acetaminophen (300mg/kg i.p) on the 15th day from starting of the extract. 3. Acetaminophen group: given acetaminophen in single (i.p) injection of 300mg/kg. By the end of 24hr following the injection of acetaminophen, the number of death in each group was calculated, all animals were fasted for 18 hrs. before sacrifice. The collected blood used for measurement of liver transaminases and the livers were isolated, fixed in 10% formalin for histopathological analysis. Results: As present in this figure the levels of AST where 142± 8.95, 90.66±16.54, 471±80.84 unit/ ml in control, Zingiber officinale+ acetaminophen and acetaminophen treated group, whereas the level of ALT were 57.2±4.61, 31.66±9.36, 402±105.19 unit/ml in animal receiving the previously mentioned treatment respectively. By using one way ANOV and Post Hoc analysis, the level of AST and ALT was higher in acetaminophen treated group compared to the other group p≤ 0.001. Histological studies also provided evidence for the biochemical analysis . The control and Zingiber officinale treated groups showed the normal hepatocytes, portal tracts and central vein figure (A). Centrizonal necrosis accompanied by fatty changes were observed in the hepatocytes in the livers of mice in acetaminophen treated group figure (B).(C). The cellular necrosis was almost completely disappearing in the group treated with Zingiber officinale + acetaminophen groups figure (D).