Biochemical and molecular studies on the hepatoprotective effect of ginger

The hepatoprotective effect of acetone soluble fraction [ASF] of petroleum ether extract of ginger was evaluated in vivo by using CC1[4] model, which induced hepatotoxicity. The results revealed that the activities of ALP, AST, ALT and TBARS were increased after adminsitraiton of CC1[4]. This effect of CC1[4] This effect of CCL[4] was attenuated by acetone soluble fraction of ginger by two doses. Also, lysosomal enzymes were markedly increased after administration of CC1[4], but this effect was ameliorated by ASF of ginger nearly to the control group. These results demonstrate that acetone soluble fraction of ginger plant exerted a hepatoprotective activity in vitro and in vivo and may be useful in the treatment of hepatotoxicity and liver diseases

Protective effect of acetone soluble fraction of ginger on carbon tetrachloride-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

The protective effect of acetone soluble fraction [ASF] of petroleum ether extract of ginger for rat kidney was evaluataed in vivo by using carbon tetrachloride [CCl[4]] model. Total proteins, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TBARS], albumin and globulin of kidney were determined. Also, the activity of four lysosomal acid hydrolases, acid phosphatase [ACP], N-acetyl- beta -glucosaminidase [beta -NAG], beta -glactosidase [beta -galactosidase [beta -GAL] and beta -glucouronidase [beta -GLU] were determined. The results revealed that TBARS was increased after administration of CCL[4] while total proteins, albumin and globulin were decreased. This effect of CCI[4] was attenuated by acetone soluble fraction of ginger by two doses. Also, the activity of four lysosomal acid hydrolases, acid phosphatase [ACP], N-acetyl- beta -glucosaminidase [beta -NAG], beta -galactosidase [beta -GAL] and beta -glucouronidase [beta -GLU] were markedly increased after administration of CCI[4], but this effect was ameliorated by acetone soluble fraction [ASF] of ginger. These results demonstrated that ASF of ginger exerted a protective activity in vivo and may be useful in the treatment of nephrotoxicity

Effect of interferon alfa-2-beta on the DNA, RNA, proteins and the O[2]-uptake of Rat liver mitochondria and homogenates

The effect of interferon alfa-2-b [IFN] on O[2]-uptake of isolated rat liver homogenate and mitochondria at 37°C over two hours were examined in two concentrations "6428.5 and 3214.3 IU/kg rat". The results of the rates of aerobic respiration of rat liver homogenate revealed the occurrence of uniform reductions in total O[2]-consumption after 1, 2, 3 and 4 hours exposure to the two concentrations of interferon. On the other hand, the O2-uptake of mitochondria exerted an enhancement effect after the exposure time under the effect of the drug. Protein patterns were determined and identified by SDS/PAGE method, genomic DNA was extracted and purified, then isolated on 1% agarose for analysis the molecular size of DNA after treatment with interferon by the two doses. RNA was extracted and purified and then isolated on agarose 1.3% for determining the differences in the molecular size between the treated and nontreated samples. The protein concentration was significantly increased by the two doses of the drug. The protein patterns on SDS/PAGE revealed different bands with different molecular Daltons. The genomic DNA isolated from rat liver mitochondira or homogenate have a high molecular size [more than 1.0 kbp.]. In addition, interferon at the low dose decreased the RNA concentration either in rat liver homogenate or mitochondria, while the high dose of the drug increased the concentration of RNA. The molecular weight of isolated RNA on agarose either from rat liver homogenate or mitochondria after drug treatment exhibited a molecular size more than 1031 bp. PCR amplification was conducted on genomic DNA of rat liver homogenate after interferon alpha 2-b treatment by the high dose only. All PCR products appeared to be identical and the bands had the same molecular weights