The influence of gingerol treatment on aluminum toxicity in rats.
BACKGROUND
Ginger is widely used as a medicine in the Ayurvedic system. It contains the active compound gingerol, which scavenges free radicals. Prolonged intake of aluminum (Al) in drinking water and from other sources may lead to neurological, renal, and hepatic dysfunction.


OBJECTIVE
The present study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of gingerol, an active principal of ginger against aluminum as Al (NO3)3 -induced toxicity in rats.


METHODS
Al (NO3)3 at 32.5 mg/kg body weight was administered to female albino rats intraperitoneally once only, followed by treatment with gingerol at 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg p.o. for 3 consecutive days beginning 24 h after Al exposure. Animals of all of the groups were sacrificed after 48 h of the last gingerol treatment for experimental observations.


RESULTS
Significant elevations were observed in serum tranaminases, cholesterol, triglyceride, creatinine, urea, and blood δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) after Al exposure. In liver, kidney, and brain tissues, the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level and total and esterified cholesterol were significantly increased, whereas glutathione (GSH), acetyl cholinesterase (AChE), and δ-aminolevulinic acid synthetase (ALAS) were significantly decreased. Treatment of gingerol for 3 days surprisingly reversed almost all of the biochemical variables toward control levels in a significant manner.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with gingerol (50 mg/kg body weight) was most effective in coping with aluminum-induced toxicity in rats. The antioxidant activity of gingerol might be due not only to the radical scavenging activity of antioxidants but also to the affinity of these antioxidants to the substrates.
Reproductive Biology and Toxicology Laboratory, UNESCO Satellite Center of Trace Element Research and School of Studies in Zoology, Jiwaji University, Gwalior (MP) India.
Sadhana
S
Shrivastava
D000624:5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase / Q000378:metabolism; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000535:Aluminum / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002396:Catechols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005233:Fatty Alcohols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000032:analysis; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D002396:Catechols; D005233:Fatty Alcohols; D008054:Lipid Peroxides; C007845:gingerol; D000535:Aluminum; D000624:5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D005978:Glutathione