Zingerone ameliorates hepatic and renal damage in alcohol-induced toxicity in experimental rats

Abstract

Background: Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) comprises a wide variety of damage, starting from steatosis to liver cancer. ALD results from a multifactorial interaction between behavioral, ecological, and hereditary factors. The aim of this study was to identify whether zingerone ameliorates liver and renal damage in alcohol-induced toxicity in experimental rats. Materials and Methods: Group 1 rats received isocaloric glucose and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) every day, Group 2 rats received zingerone (40 mg/kg body weight [b.w.] in DMSO postorally [p.o]) everyday during the past 30 days of the experimental period, Groups 3-6 received 30% ethanol (6 g/kg b.w. p.o) everyday for 60 days. In addition, Groups 4-6 received different doses of zingerone (10, 20 or 40 mg/kg b.w. in DMSO) every day for the past 30 days of the experimental period. Results: Our results revealed significant elevation in the activities/levels of liver marker enzymes, hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase, serum total bilirubin, renal markers and decreased levels/activities of serum total proteins, albumin, globulin, hepatic aldehyde dehydrogenase and significant changes in the liver and kidney histology of ethanol treated rats as compared to the control rats. Supplementation with zingerone to ethanol-fed rats reversed the ethanol-induced alterations in the liver marker enzymes, serum total bilirubin, serum total proteins, albumin, globulin, hepatic alcohol metabolizing enzymes, renal markers and also restored the histological changes in the liver and kidney. Conclusion: Thus, zingerone can be suggested to offer distinct protection against ethanol-induced organ damage.