Effect of Zingiber officinale on liver oxidative status and biochemical parameters in rats exposed to paraquat

Oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species is one of the major pathogenesis of important diseases of animals and human. Paraquat is widely used as herbicide. The toxicity of paraquat is through induction of oxidative processes in biological systems. Biochemically, this herbicide interferes with intracellular electron transfer system leading to the formation of superoxide anion. Zingiber officinale (ginger) is widely used as a spice and medical treatment for various diseases. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of different levels of ginger extract on antioxidant status and serum metabolites of rats. Sixty male albino Wistar rats were divided in six groups as follows: control (saline); ginger; paraquat; paraquat with 100, 200, and 400 ginger. After 30 days of treatment, the blood was collected by cardiac puncture. The activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), reduced glutathione (GSH), and lipid peroxidation were estimated. In paraquat-treated group, the serum levels of ALT, AST, and malondialdehyde (MDA) were markedly raised. Administration of ginger extract with paraquat reduced the serum levels of ALT, AST, and MDA. Hepatic SOD, CAT, GPx, GST, and GSH activities were significantly decreased in paraquat-treated group compared to those of control. However, concurrent administration of paraquat with all concentrations of ginger extract had the opposite effect, where it increased the hepatic SOD, CAT, GPx, GST, and GSH activities near to control. The present study demonstrates that administration of ginger extract to rats modulates the antioxidant enzymes and suggests a possible adaptive mechanism to counteract oxidative stress situation.