Investigating the effects of aqueous <i>Zingiber officinale</i> rhizome extract on CCL₄-induced liver alterations in Wistar rats

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The medicinal value of plants has long been recognized with numerous drugs derived from them proving essential in disease treatment. Accordingly, this study investigated the effects of aqueous Zingiber officinale rhizome extract (AZOR) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced liver alterations in Wistar rats.

METHODOLOGY: Twenty adult Wistar rats were assigned into a control Group (A) and three treatment Groups (B-D) containing five rats each. Rats in group B received 200 mg/kg body weight (BW) of AZOR; Rats in treatment groups C and D were administered with an intraperitoneal injection of 1 ml/ kg BW of 30% CCl₄/olive oil mixture every 72 h for 14 days, however, rats in Group C were treated daily with 200 mg/kg BW of AZOR. Thereafter, the rats were sacrificed and blood samples were collected to assay for aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TB), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx) and Malondialdehyde (MDA). Histological analyses were conducted to assess the effects of these treatments.

RESULTS: Findings revealed a significant increase in AST, ALT, ALP, TB, and MDA as well as a significant decrease in SOD, CAT and GPx in the group treated with CCl₄ alone, indicative of liver damage. Histological findings showed severe steatosis in the group treated with CCl₄ alone. However, treatment with AZOR attenuated these adverse effects, suggesting a protective effect of the extract against CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity.

CONCLUSION: Taken together, the hepatoprotective potential of AZOR against CCl₄ could be attributed to the antioxidant properties of the plant.