Ginger feeding protects against renal oxidative damage caused by alcohol consumption in rats.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the nephro-protective effect of ginger against chronic alcohol-induced oxidative stress and tissue damage.

DESIGN

This is a prospective animal study in which renal antioxidant enzymes were demolished by alcohol consumption and restored with ginger feeding. We fed rats with ginger for 30 days to evaluate the nephro-protective effect against alcohol toxicity.

METHODS

Twenty-four Wistar strain rats were divided into 4 equal groups: normal control (Nc), ginger treated (Gt), alcohol treated (At), and alcohol plus ginger treated (At + Gt). Ginger was given to the At group for 30 days and renal antioxidant enzymes were assayed.

RESULTS

Renal antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase activities, and the levels of glutathione were significantly (P < .001) decreased, whereas malondialdehyde levels were elevated in At group. However, ginger extract supplementation to the At rats reversed these effects and attained the antioxidant status to normal levels. Furthermore, degenerative changes in renal cells with alcohol treatment were minimized to nearness in architecture by ginger supplementation.

CONCLUSIONS

This study concludes that alcohol-induced nephro-toxicity was attenuated by ginger extract treatment, thus ginger can used as a regular nutrient to protect the renal cells.