The Hypoglycemic Effects of Ginger and Garlic Administration on Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

This work was designed to investigate the possible hypoglycemic effects of ginger (Zingiber officinal) and garlic (Allium sativum) administration on type 2 diabetesinduced in rats. Seventy male adult albino rats were randomly divided into seven groups of ten animals: Normal Control (Cnt), Diabetic Control (CntD), Ginger Low (GNL), Ginger High (GNH), Garlic Low (GRL), Garlic High (GRH) and a combination group (GNH+GRH). Diabetes was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 65 mg/kg of body weight) in all groups except the Cnt group. Rats were treated with ginger and garlic powders in different doses for 2 months. At the end of experiment, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), serum glucose, serum insulin, cholesterol, and high density lipoprotein (HDL)concentrations, low density lipoprotein (LDL), liver glycogen and glucagon levels were estimated.Expression of Glucose-6-Phosphatase and Glucokinase genes in liver samples from each group were normalized with housekeeping gene (s-actin) using reverse transcriptase real time Polymerase chain reaction. Serum insulin and HDL concentrations were significantly (P< 0.05) higherbutbody weight, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, LDLand HbA1clevels were significantly (P< 0.05) lower in the Cnt, GNH, GRH and GNH+GRHgroups compared to the CntD, GNL and GRL groups. Liver glycogen level was significantly (P< 0.05) higher and serum glucagon level was significantly (P< 0.05) lower in the combination group only but non significant difference was observed for the other groups. The expression of liver Glucose-6-Phosphatase gene was significantly (P< 0.05) downregulated but the Glucokinase gene was significantly (P< 0.05) upregulated in STZ diabetic rats treated withhigh doses of ginger and garlic powders. This study suggests that ginger and garlic powders can be used to ameliorate type 2 diabetes and might also help in preventing secondary diabetic complications.