Abstract Background: Ginger (Zingiber officinale, family Zingiberaceae) is a perinneal plant whose its roots are used as a spice and for medicinal purposes. Aim: To investigate some pharmacological effects of ginger roots extract (GE) and its 6-Shogaol (6-SHO) compound in obese diabetic rat model. Materials and Methods: Sixty mature rats were allocated into 6 groups (n=10). Group 1 was kept negative control and the other 5 groups were fed high-fat diet (HFD) for 4 weeks to induce obesity. The obese rats were rendered diabetic by daily subcutaneous injection of 120 mg/kg alloxan for 5 days. After induction of diabetes, group 2 was kept positive control (obese diabetic) and the remaining 4 groups were orally given GE in 100 and 200 mg/kg and 6-SHO in 5 and 10 mg/kg daily for 6 weeks, respectively. Blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis and livers were dissected out for preparing homogenates. Results: GE and its 6-SHO decreased body and fats weights and levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase enzymes (ALT), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Blood glucose and leptin were decreased, while insulin was increased in rats given GE and its 6-CHO. The activity of hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT) antioxidant enzymes was increased. Conclusion: GE produces an anti-obesity, hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic, antidiabetic, and anti-oxidant effects. These effects may be attributed to the presence of 6-SHO compound in GE. Ginger, a popular herb used as a drink, may be beneficial for obese diabetic patients.
Keywords Ginger, anti-obesity, hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic, antidiabetic, anti-oxidant.