Effect of ginger on zinc, lipid profile and antioxidants levels in blood and liver of streptozotocin induced diabetic rats fed on zinc deficiency diet

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a non-communicable disease affecting 463 million people across the world. Ginger has enormous health promoting potential effects in number of ailments including diabetes. So, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the beneficial effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) supplementation on carbohydrate metabolism, antioxidant status and tissue zinc in diabetic rats fed zinc deficient diet. Rats were divided into four groups. The first group was non-diabetic rats fed adequate zinc diet. The second was diabetic group fed also adequate zinc diet. While, the third and the fourth groups were diabetic fed zinc deficient diet, one non-treated and the other treated with ginger 2% diet. The findings showed an increase of blood glucose, transaminases, lipids profile and malondialdehyde levels, whereasinsulin, liverzinc, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, proteins, reduced glutathione and antioxidant enzymes were reduced in zinc deficient rats. However, treatment with ginger restored the previous parameters. The obtained results indicated that ginger has a powerful effect, which led to a reduction of diabetes development in zinc deficiency due to its antioxidant potential.