title: Comparative study on the hepatoprotection to heavy metals of Zingiber officinale.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Zingiber officinale (Zingiberaceae) is a herb used for culinary and therapeutic purposes due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potentials.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We examined its protective ability against mercury (Hg), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) accumulation in the liver.  MATERIALS #ENTITYSTARTX00026;
  
  
  METHODS
  Ground Zingiber officinale (7%, w/w of feed) was administered to rats either at the same time with the exposure ofheavy metals (group 2), a week after exposure to heavy metals (group 3) or given a week before heavy metal exposure (group 4) for six weeks. Animals were exposed to either of Hg (10 ppm), Cd (200 ppm) and Pb (100 ppm) in drinking water. The heavy metal accumulations in the liver were determined using AAS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Weight losses induced by these metals were not reversed by Zingiber officinale administration. There was a significant (P<0.01) increase in protection to Pb (97%) and Cd (63%) accumulation when compared to Hg (32%) at week 2. The protective ability was significantly (P<0.01) decreased at week 4 when compared to week 2 for Cd and Pb but not to Hg in groups 3 (50%) and 4 (52%). At week 6, hepatoprotection to Hg (44%) and Cd (85%) was significantly (P<0.01) different but not to Pb which was only significant (P<0.05) in week 2 of treatment for all groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Zingiber officinale affected the bioavailability, elimination and uptake of these metals in a time-dependent way with highest beneficial reducing effect to Cd followed by Hg and least protection to Pb in the liver.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Chukwuemeka R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Nwokocha
authors.forename: Daniel U
authors.initials: DU
authors.lastname: Owu
authors.forename: Magdalene I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Nwokocha
authors.forename: Chibueze S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Ufearo
authors.forename: Moses O E
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Iwuala