Diabetes Metab J.  2016 Feb;40(1):46-53. 10.4093/dmj.2016.40.1.46.

Protective Effects of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) Extract against Diabetes-Induced Heart Abnormality in Rats

• Ilkhanizadeh B
• Shirpoor A
• Khadem Ansari MH
• Nemati S
• Rasmi Y

• KMID: 2383314
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4093/dmj.2016.40.1.46

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Diabetic cardiomyopathy is an important causal factor in morbidity and mortality among diabetic patients, and currently, no effective means are available to reverse its pathological progress. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of ginger extract on apolipoproteins (apo) A and B, hyperhomocysteinemia, cathepsin G and leptin changes, as well as cardiac fibrosis and heart muscle cell proliferation under hyperglycemic conditions in vivo.
METHODS
Twenty-four male Wistar rats were divided into three groups, namely: control, non-treated diabetic, and ginger extract-treated diabetic groups. The ginger extract-treated diabetic group received a 50 mg daily dose of ginger extract intragastrically for 6 weeks.
RESULTS
The results revealed concurrent significant increases in plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), homocysteine (Hcy), cathepsin G and apoB levels and decreases in apoA and leptin levels in the non-treated diabetic group compared to the control group. Moreover, heart structural changes, including fibrosis and heart muscle cell proliferation, were observed in non-treated diabetic rats compared to the control rats. Significant amelioration of changes in the heart structure together with restoration of the elevated levels of Hcy and CRP, leptin, cathepsin G, and apoA and B were found in the ginger extract-treated diabetic group compared to the non-treated diabetic group.
CONCLUSION
The findings indicated that ginger extract significantly reduces heart structural abnormalities in diabetic rats and that these effects might be associated with improvements in serum apo, leptin, cathepsin G, and Hcy levels and with the antioxidant properties of ginger extract.

Keyword

Diabetes; Ginger; Heart; Leptin; Rats

MeSH Terms

Animals
Apolipoproteins A
Apolipoproteins B
C-Reactive Protein
Cathepsin G
Diabetic Cardiomyopathies
Fibrosis
Ginger*
Heart Defects, Congenital*
Heart*
Homocysteine
Humans
Hyperhomocysteinemia
Leptin
Male
Mortality
Myocytes, Cardiac
Plasma
Rats*
Rats, Wistar
Apolipoproteins A
Apolipoproteins B
C-Reactive Protein
Cathepsin G
Homocysteine
Leptin

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Immunohistochemical staining of heart and coronary tissue for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) indicate the proliferation of heart muscle (A-C) and coronary smooth muscle cells (D-F) in the diabetic group compared to the control group. Ginger extract treatment along diabetes reduced cell proliferation in both tissues (×400). PCNA positive indices (arrows).

• 

  Fig. 2 (A-C) Masson trichrome staining showing fibrosis bonds in the heart tissue of diabetic rats compared to the control group. No fibrosis bond or accumulation was observed in the heart tissue of the ginger-extract treated group (×400). Fibrosis bond (arrow).

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