Cardio-protective and cholesterol lowering effects of garlic (Allium sativum) and ginger (Zingiber officiale) extracts in laboratory animals

Abstract

Garlic and ginger have attracted particular attention ofmodern medicine because of their wide spread use around the world and thecherished belief that they help to maintain good health by warding off illnessand providing more vigor. The study investigated the cardio-protective activityof Ginger (Zingiber officiale) and Garlic (Allium sativum) extracts inlaboratory animals. Animals of both sexes were assigned into different groups as follows: Group 1: Served as control and wereadministered with 1ml of distilled water, Group 2: Received 20mg/kg b w ofgarlic, Group 3: Received 40mg/kg b w of garlic, Group 4: Received 20mg/kg b wof ginger, Group 5: Received 40mg/kg b w of ginger, Group 6: Received garlic10mg and ginger 10mg/kg b w Group 7: Received garlic 20mg and ginger 20mg/kg bw. All administration was given orally for duration of four (4) weeks. Animalswere euthanized after the last day of treatment, blood samples were collectedand serum separated for lipid profile assay. The results obtained in the studyshowed a statistically significant reduction (p<0.05) of serum totalcholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein levels at all single andcombined doses of the extract administered to the animals when compared to thecontrol group. However, the extract at single and combined doses significantlyelevated (p<0.05) serum high density lipoprotein level in the treatedanimals when compared to the control group. The administration of the extractespecially at the combined doses produced a reduction (p< 0.05) on the rateas well as the force of contraction when compared with the baseline controllevel. The interaction between the extract and the standard drug (adrenaline)revealed that the extract completely blocked the action of adrenaline whenco-administered, hence reducing both the rate and force of contraction. Inconclusion, the findings in this study suggest that the extracts as well astheir combination improved lipid profile in the animals and thecardio-protective effect of garlic and ginger was linked to the decrease on therate and force of contraction of isolated perfuse heart studied.