The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of ginger extract on hepatotoxicity of hypercholesterolemia in rats. Four groups of male albino rats were used: group 1,animals fed on normal diet, group 2 animals fed on normal diet and given aqueous ginger extract,group 3: animals fed on hyper cholestrolemic diet, and group 4: animals fed on hypercholestrolemic diet (HCD) and given ginger extract. Experimental animals were subjected to histological, immunohistochemical and biochemical analysis. The results showed that liver of rats of HCD group showed histopathological alterations including congestion of blood vessels, leucocytic infiltrations, cytoplasmic vacuolization of hepatocytes and fatty infiltrations. Expression of PCNA was elevated. Biochemical results revealed an increase in the activity of ALT and AST. Moreover, an increase in cholesterol and triglycerides was recorded in sera of HCD animals. All these changes were reversed in animals given HCD and treated with ginger extract. It is concluded from the present study that the protective effect of ginger against hepatotoxicity may be mediated by the antioxidant activity of its components.
Hypercholesterolemia, Ginger, Liver, Histology,Treansaminases,rats
