Effect of Zingiber officinale on lipid profile of sprague-dawley rats induced with streptozotocin

Herbal preparation use for the treatment of disease and knowledge has been handed down from generation to generation. Zingiber officinale known as ginger has been used traditionally in the treatment of various kinds of ailments. Various studies have reported its antioxidants properties. In the present study, the hyperlipidemic activities of fresh Malaysian ginger were studied using an animal model. SD rats were divided into six groups and allowed to acclimatise for a week. Diabetes mellitus was induced in rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (60 mg/kg body weight). Group 1served as the normal control rats which received normal saline. Group 2 served as diabetic control. Group 3 received 200mg/kg aqueous extract of ginger. Group 4 received 400mg/kg aqueous extract of ginger. Group 5 received 0.5mg/kg glibenclamide which was used as reference drug. The study was carried out for seven weeks. Lipid profile such as cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and HLD were estimated using reflotron. Aqueous extracts of ginger at a dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight, were significantly effective in lowering lipid profiles of the diabetic rats treated with aqueous extracts of ginger which showed reduction in the levels of serum LDL cholesterol and triglycerides whereas serum HDL levels statistically increased when compared to the diabetic control rats.