LEAD TOXICITY ON HEMATOLOGICAL CHANGES AND AMELIORATION WITH GINGER (Zingiber officinale) EXTRACT IN MALE ALBINO RATS

Lead toxicity is a worldwide health problem due to continuous exposure of the population to lead in the environment especially workers in industries. It affects many body organs especially the liver and kidneys. The present investigation aimed to study the protective role of Zingiber officinlae against lead acetate toxicity on various haematological parameters in male albino wistar rats. Adult 42 healthy rats were randomly divided into seven groups viz. normal control (group I), lower dose of ginger extract @200mg/kg b wt (group II), higher dose of ginger extract @300mg/kg b wt (group III), lead acetate control @200mg/kg b wt (group IV), lower dose of ginger + Lead acetate (group V), higher dose of ginger + Lead acetate (group VI) and lead + silymarin @100mg/kg b wt (group VII) orally for 8 weeks. The mean RBC and Hb values were reduced significantly (P<0.05) in lead treated rats but the mean WBC values were increased. Whereas significant improvement was noticed in ginger treated rats increase RBC and Hb values and WBC levels were recovered to normal as dose dependent manner. The alteration in haematological parameters in the present study indicates decreased lifespan and fragility of RBC and damage to liver and kidney in lead poisoned male wistar albino rats.