Ginger oleoresin supplementation lowers blood pressure and triglyceride levels in hypercholesterolemic rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ginger oleoresin on blood pressure and serum lipids in hypercholesterolemic rats. Three groups of Sprague Dawley rats were fed a hypercholesterolemic diet (consisting 95% rat chow, 4% cholesterol and 1% cholic acid) for six weeks and a control group was fed rat chow for the same period. Two of the groups on the hypercholesterolemic diet were given (orally) ginger oleoresin (242μg/kg and 484μg/kg) daily for six weeks. The third group on the hypercholesterolemic diet and the control group received (orally) ginger oleoresin vehicle daily for six weeks. Weekly blood pressure measurements were taken, and at the end of the six weeks blood was taken from each animal for serum lipid analysis. The data was analyzed using unpaired student's t test. The results show that the hypercholesterolemic diet significantly increased blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein (LDL) concentrations in comparison to the results in the control group of rats. Treatment with ginger oleoresin significantly decreased blood pressure from week three. Triglyceride concentration was also significantly decreased by ginger oleoresin (484μg/kg), but total cholesterol, LDL and high density lipoprotein (HDL) concentrations were not significantly affected by the ginger oleoresin treatment. It is concluded that ginger oleoresin prevented blood pressure elevation produced by hypercholesterolemic diet. It also reduced serum triglyceride concentration without significantly affecting total cholesterol, LDL and HDL concentrations.