GINGER PROTECTS RATS AGAINST CADMIUM-INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY

Cadmium (Cd) is a major environmental and industrial pollutant that can induce a wide range of toxicological effects in humans and experimental animals. Ginger is a widely consumed spice known to possess several pharmacological effects. The present study investigated the protective role of ginger against Cd-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Twenty-four male rats were divided into four groups: group I served as a control, group II was orally administered ginger (100 mg/kg b.wt), group III received oral cadmium chloride (CdCl2) at a dose of 15 mg/Kg b.wt, and group IV was co-treated with 15 mg/Kg b.wt CdCl2 and 100 mg/kg b.wt ginger daily for 4 weeks. Cd administration elicited liver damage that was indicated by remarkable increase in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH). Also, Cd treatment resulted in a significant increase in MDA concentration and significant decreases in reduced glutathione (GSH) level and activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in liver. However, co-treatment with ginger alleviated all these toxic effects. This study concluded that ginger efficiently ameliorated Cd-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.