Abstract
We investigated the effects of ethanolic ginger extract and L-carnitine on lipids and carbohydrates gene expression. Fifteen Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups (5 rats per group). Control group did not receive any treatment. L-carnitine group received L-carnitine in a dose of 100 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally (i.p). Gingerol group; received gingerol extract in a dose of 200 mg/kg/day (intr-gastric). All animal received their relevant doses for consecutive 20 days. Blood and Tissues were collected for biochemical and gene expression. Serum biochemical analysis showed reduction of blood glucose, insulin, leptin, cholesterol, Triglycerides (TG), High density lipoproteins (HDL), Low density lipoprotein (LDL), and Very low density lipoproteins (VLDL). Both L-carnitine and Ginger extract upregulated the expression of lipid and glucose metabolizing enzymes such as carnitine palmitoyl transferase-I (CPT-I), hormone sensitive lipase (HSL), acyl-CoA oxidase (ACO) and glucose metabolizing enzymes hexokinase (HK), enolase, pyruvate kinase (PK) mRNA, insulin receptor substrate-I (IRS-1) and insulin receptor substrate-II (IRS-2) mRNA. The results of this study showed the hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic effect of ginger extract occurs through up-regulation of mitochondorial and peroxisomal beta-oxidation while that of L-carnitine occurs through mitochondorial beta-oxidation induction only. Current findings confirmed that ethanolic extract of ginger acts as a potential for prevention and treatment of obesity and hyperglycemia.