Effects of ginger extract in the treatment of diabetic rats

Abstract

The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe.) extract on chemical compositions, blood glucose levels, body weight, blood serum insulin levels and lipid profiles in diabetic rats. The experiments were designed to feed orally of ginger extract at a dose 250 mg/kg body weight in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats for five weeks. The results revealed that the ginger extract significantly reduced blood glucose level, lowered serum total cholesterol, LDL and raised HDL, blood serum insulin in diabetic rats or diabetic rat fed cheese closed to the normal controls and glibenclamide treated rats. These finding indicated that the ginger extract could be remedy as anti-diabetic agent and ginger health care. Because both normal rats, diabetic rats and diabetic fed cheese rats receiving ginger extract weight higher than the control rats was statistically significant (p<0.05).