The Antidiabetic and Nephroprotective Effects of Zingiber officinale Rosc in Diabetic Nephropathy Rats

Abstract

Diabetes is a metabolic syndrome characterized by a high blood sugar level over a prolonged period of time. Blood vessels, eyes, kidney, heart and nerves are particularly damaged by diabetes. About onethird of diabetic patients develop diabetic nephropathy (DN) and progress to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Ginger has a broad spectrum of pharmacological properties and it is used against various illness including diabetes mellitus. The study is specifically planned to see the potential therapeutic effects of Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc) and compare their effects with metformin in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy. A total of 36 adult male Albino Wistar rats weighing between 150 and 200g were used. All experimental animals were divided into four groups. Group-I was normal control rats. Alloxan (100mg/ kg of body weight; IP) was administered to group II, III and IV animals to induce diabetes. Group-I and II rats were treated with normal saline, 500mg of ginger extract/kg of B.W and 100mg of standard drug metformin/kg of B.W were administered daily for 30 days using oral gavage to Group-III and IV rats respectively. According to our findings we confirmed that ginger restrained the alloxan induced oxidative stress by increasing the activity of CAT, SOD, GSH and decreasing MDA activity. Plasma urea and serum creatinine levels were also significantly reduced by ginger treatment. This study also demonstrated that reduced HbA1C concentration and increased serum nephrin concentration by ginger treatment. These results suggest that ginger ameliorated the diabetes induced complications and this provides a strong basis for ginger to be used clinically for diabetes treatment.