The effect of the methanolic extract of Zingiber officinale on the duodenal histology, antioxidants and expression of inflammatory cytokines–a pilot study

Abstract

This study investigated the biochemical and histological changes associated with administering a methanolic extract of Zingiber officinale (MEZO) in Wistar rats. Fifteen (15) female rats with weights ranging from 120 - 160 g were randomly divided into three (3) groups (A-C). Group A received no treatment and served as the control group. Groups B and C received 200 and 400 mg/kg of MEZO orally for 21 days, respectively. There were no significant changes in the SOD, GSH, and CAT levels in all the groups treated with MEZO compared to the control (p < 0.05). There was no difference in the expression of inflammatory cytokines in the duodenum of rats treated with MEZO compared to the control. Histopathological studies showed acute duodenitis with intense inflammatory cell infiltrations and an eroded villus. This study shows that MEZO causes no significant oxidative changes in the female rat duodenum. However, it could elicit transient and non-dose-dependent proinflammatory potentials in the female duodenum of Wistar rats at a low dose which could not be explained by the tissue antioxidants and expression of IL1α and IL4. There is a need for reevaluation of the safety of ginger extracts in the female rat duodenum.