Protective Effects of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) Extract against Diabetes-Induced Heart Abnormality in Rats

BACKGROUND: Diabetic cardiomyopathy is an important causal factor in morbidity and mortality among diabetic patients, and currently, no effective means are available to reverse its pathological progress. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of ginger extract on apolipoproteins (apo) A and B, hyperhomocysteinemia, cathepsin G and leptin changes, as well as cardiac fibrosis and heart muscle cell proliferation under hyperglycemic conditions in vivo. METHODS: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were divided into three groups, namely: control, non-treated diabetic, and ginger extract-treated diabetic groups. The ginger extract-treated diabetic group received a 50 mg daily dose of ginger extract intragastrically for 6 weeks. RESULTS: The results revealed concurrent significant increases in plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), homocysteine (Hcy), cathepsin G and apoB levels and decreases in apoA and leptin levels in the non-treated diabetic group compared to the control group. Moreover, heart structural changes, including fibrosis and heart muscle cell proliferation, were observed in non-treated diabetic rats compared to the control rats. Significant amelioration of changes in the heart structure together with restoration of the elevated levels of Hcy and CRP, leptin, cathepsin G, and apoA and B were found in the ginger extract-treated diabetic group compared to the non-treated diabetic group. CONCLUSION: The findings indicated that ginger extract significantly reduces heart structural abnormalities in diabetic rats and that these effects might be associated with improvements in serum apo, leptin, cathepsin G, and Hcy levels and with the antioxidant properties of ginger extract.

Protective effect of vitamin E against diabetes-induced oxidized LDL and aorta cell wall proliferation in rat

Hyperlipidemia and oxidized-low-density lipoproteins [Ox-LDL] are important independent cardiovascular risk factors that have been shown to stimulate vascular smooth muscle cell [VSMC] proliferation. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of vitamin E on Ox-LDL, lipid profile, C-reactive protein [CRP], and VSMC proliferation of rat aorta. Male Wistar rats [n = 32] were divided into four groups namely: sham [SH], control [C], non-treated diabetic, and vitamin E-treated diabetic [VETD] groups. Ox-LDL, lipid profile, CRP and VSMC proliferation of aorta were measured after 42 days. The results revealed that along with a significant increase in VSMC proliferation, the amount of CRP, Ox-LDL, and lipid profiles in diabetic rats. VSMC proliferation was significantly ameliorated, and elevated CRP, Ox-LDL, and lipid profiles were also restored to those of shams in VETD. These findings strongly support the idea that diabetes induces Ox-LDL-mediated oxidative stress and VSMC proliferation in aorta of rat and imply that vitamin E has a strong protective effect as an antioxidant

protective effect of vitamin E on morphological and biochemical alteration induced by pre and postnatal ethanol administration in the testis of male rat offspring: a three months follow-up study

Dysmorphology and dysfunction caused by prenatal ethanol consumption in different organs of the offspring are wellknown phenomena. The objective of the present study was to explore the antioxidant effect of vitamin E supplementation on testis damage induced by maternal ethanol consumption during pregnancy and early postnatal days. Pregnant Wistar rats on gestation day 7 were assigned to 3 groups, namely, control, ethanol and ethanol-vitamin E groups. Ethanol-treated rats received 4.5 g/kg BW ethanol once per day from day 7 and the procedure continued through postnatal day 21. Vitamin E group received 300 mg of vitamin E and the same amount of ethanol. The male offspring from each group were anesthetized by 10% chloral hydrate [0.5 ml/kg body weight] on day 21 and 90 [n=8 offspring form each group on day 21 and day 90]. The results were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. A p<0.05 was considered significant. The results revealed significant [p<0.05] changes in oxidative stress parameters, luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone, as well as testis structural alteration in offspring of ethanol group after 21 and 90 days of birth as compared to the control. Significant amelioration of changes in testis structure, along with restoration of the elevated level of oxidative stress parameters were found in vitamin E-treated animals. The findings revealed that prenatal and postnatal ethanol-induced toxicity in testis was exerted through oxidative stress and implied that these effects could be alleviated by vitamin E as an antioxidant

effect of garlic on cyclosporine-a-induced hyperlipidemia in male rats

Cyclosporin A [CsA] is a potent immunosuppressive drug. However, it has adverse effects that include elevation of plasma low-density lipoprotein [LDL]. This study was designed to determine the effect of garlic on CsA-induced hyperlipidemia in male rats. Baseline serum blood samples from forty 10-month-old, male Wistar rats were obtained. They received intraperitoneal [IP] injection of CsA [25 mg/kg] for 28 days. Blood samples were again obtained after the 28-day treatment. Sixteen of 40 rats showed increased serum LDL levels. These 16 were divided into 2 groups of 8 rats each. In the first [experimental] group, 8 rats received garlic [tablets, 400 mg/d], CsA [25 mg/kg IP], and regular diet for 28 days. In the second [control] group, 8 rats received the same regimen without the garlic tablets. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were taken from animals in both groups, and LDL levels were assessed. The mean baseline LDL level in animals in the control group was 17.75 +/- 4.1 mg/dL. This increased to 21.5 +/- 1.6 mg/dL after 28 days of CsA administration. After 28 more days, the mean LDL level increased to 25.4 +/- 4.9 mg/dL [P=.004]. In animals in the experimental group, the baseline LDL level was 23.8 +/- 3.7 mg/dL, which increased to 31.3 +/- 1.6 mg/dL after the first 28 days [P<.001]. After the second 28 days, it decreased to 26.0 +/- 4.8 mg/dL [P=.06], and among 4 animals, the LDL level decreased more than 49%. In a Wistar rat model, animals given cyclosporin A subsequently treated with garlic demonstrated reduced LDL levels compared with controls. This treatment may be useful in patients receiving organ transplantation