Hepatoprotective and nephroprotective property of Zingiber officinale leaves in acetaminophen induced liver and kidney damage in Wistar rats

It is necessary to search for safe compounds for management of kidney and liver diseases, due to sideeffects of currently available drugs. This research studied the hepatoprotective and nephroprotective effects of Zingiber officiale leaves in Wistar rats using acetaminophen as toxicant. Thirty rats were classified to five categories comprising of six animals each. The first group was the normal control and was given only vehicle (distilled water). Groups 2 served as acetaminophen control and was givenacetaminophen (750mg/kg). Groups 3, 4, 5 received acetaminophen (750mg/kg). Groups 3, 4, 5 also received silymarin (reference drug; 50mg/kg), Zingiber officiale (200mg/kg), Zingiber officiale (400mg/kg) respectively. All administration was done by oral means for 21 days. Experimental rats were thereafter euthanized by cervical dislocation. Blood and other tissues were harvested. Results showed that rats in normal control, silymarin and Zingiber officinale groups had significantly (p < 0.05)lower serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin, urea and creatinine levels in comparison with  rats in acetaminophen control. Rats in acetaminophen  control had lower concentration of protein in serum, in comparison with normal control, silymarin or Zingiber officiale treated groups. Furthermore, reduced glutathioneconcentration was lowered and malondialdehyde concentration was raised in tissues (liver and kidney) in acetaminophen control rats in comparison with other groups. There was no significant difference in the ALP, AST, total protein, albumin, bilirubin, urea, creatinine, GSH and MDA levels of treatment groups (3, 4 and 5). These findings imply that methanol leaf extract of Zingiber officiale possess hepatoprotective, nephroprotective and antioxidant effects in rats. The study is therefore relevantin the discovery of new compounds for ameliorating the burden of liver and kidney diseases.