title: Ginger extract modulates Pb-induced hepatic oxidative stress and expression of antioxidant gene transcripts in rat liver.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Spices and herbs are recognized sources of natural antioxidants that can protect from oxidative stress, thus play an important role in chemoprevention of liver diseases. Ginger is used worldwide primarily as a spicy condiment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the ability of ginger extract (GE) to ameliorate oxidative-hepatic toxicity induced by lead acetate (PbAc) in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five groups of animals were used: group I kept as control; groups II, IV, and V received PbAc (1 ppm in drinking water daily for 6 weeks, and kept for an additional 2 weeks without PbAc exposure); group III treated orally with GE (350 mg/kg body weight, 4 d per week) for 6 weeks; group IV (protective) received GE for 2 weeks before and simultaneously with PbAc; and group V (treatment) received GE for 2 weeks after PbAc exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GC-MS analysis of GE revealed its content of gingerol (7.09%), quercetin (3.20%), dl-limonene (0.96%), and zingiberene (0.18%). Treatment of PbAc-treated rats with GE has no effect on hepatic Pb concentrations. However, it maintained serum aspartate aminotransferase level, increased hepatic glutathione (157%), glutathione S-transferase (GST) (228%), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) (138%) and catalase (CAT) (112%) levels, and reduced hepatic malondialdehyde (80%). Co-treatment of PbAc group with GE upregulated mRNA expression of antioxidant genes: GST-α1 (1.4-fold), GPx1 (1.8-fold), and CAT (8-fold), while post-treatment with GE upregulated only mRNA expression of GPx1 (1.5-fold).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GE has an antioxidant protective efficacy against PbAc-induced hepatotoxicity, which appears more effective than its therapeutic application. However, the changes in antioxidant gene expression were not reflected at the protein level.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Veterinary Forensic Medicine and Toxicology .
authors.forename: Omnia Ismail
authors.initials: OI
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.affiliation: b Department of Animal Husbandry and Animal Wealth Development, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine , Alexandria University , Edfina , Egypt , and.
authors.forename: Abeer Fekry
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: El-Nahas
authors.affiliation: c Department of Veterinary Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine , Damanhour University , Damanhour , Egypt.
authors.forename: Yasser Said
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: El-Sayed
authors.affiliation: a Department of Veterinary Forensic Medicine and Toxicology .
authors.forename: Khaled Mohamed
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Ashry
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019610:Cytoprotection; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D020939:Zingiber officinale / Q000737:chemistry; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C008261:lead acetate
keywords: Antioxidants; RT-qPCR; Zingiber officinale; lead toxicity; lipid peroxidation; liver function