Protective Effect of the Ethanol Extract of Zingiber officinale Roscoe on Paracetamol Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats

Abstract

The protective effect of the ethanol extract of the rhizome of Zingiber officinale Roscoe on acute hepatotoxicity induced by paracetamol (1000 mg/kg) was studied in plasma and hepatic tissue samples obtained from male Sprague-Dawley rats. The ethanol extract was given in oral doses of 200 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg to the rats at 0, 4 and 8 hrs after paracetamol was given orally. The plasma and liver of the rats were subjected to biochemical analysis 24 hrs after hepatotoxicity was induced to determine the levels of superoxide dismutase(SOD), malonaldehyde (MDA) and aspartate transaminase (AST). The results were compared to the rats which were given the antidote N-acetylcysteine (NAC) (500 mg/kg) at 0, 4 and 8 hrs after the paracetamol dose. The results showed that at 200 mg/kg the extract reduced the plasma levels of SOD significantly (p < 0.05) while at a higher dose of 300 mg/kg it reduced plasma SOD, hepatic MDA, serum AST and increased the levels of plasma proteins significantly (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the ethanol extract of Z. officinale showed protective effect against paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity at both dose levels and the protective effect was better at the higher dose.