Acute Toxicity and Effect of Prolonged Oral administration of Zingiber officinale ethanol extract on Liver and Kidney Histology in Rats

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of 28-day repeated administration of Zingiber officinale on the histology of the liver and kidney in Wistar rats. An acute toxicity test was carried out using 12 rats. In phase one, nine rats were allotted into three groups and received Zingiber officinale ethanol extract at 10mg/kg, 100mg/kg, and 1000mg/kg respectively. In phase two, three rats received Zingiber officinale ethanol extract at 1600mg/kg, 2900mg/kg, and 5000mg/kg respectively. Twenty-five rats were distributed into five groups. The groups received distilled water and ethanol extract of Zingiber officinale at 25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, 75 mg/kg, and 150 mg/kg respectively for 28 days. On the 29th day, all the rats were euthanized. The oral LD50 of Zingiber officinale ethanol extract was calculated to be 3800 mg/kg in rats. The rats that received Zingiber officinale ethanol extract up to 1600 mg/kg showed no signs of toxicity and mortality. The liver of rats that received Zingiber officinale at 150 mg/kg showed distorted hepatocytes and pyknosis. The kidney of 75 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg Zingiber officinale treated rats showed normal glomerulus and normal Bowman’s capsule with severe renal tubular distortion. In conclusion, Zingiber officinale is less toxic. However, long term administration might lead to liver and kidney damage and eventual death.