Abstract
Ginger and alpha-lipoic acid have recently gained attention as a potent antioxidant. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the possible therapeutic effects of daily oral administration of ginger and alpha-lipoic acid on diabetic rats. 42 Male albino rats (150-180gm) were divided into 7 groups; control, olive oil (vehicle) control, alloxan induced diabetic (DM), ginger-treated (GN), alpha-lipoic acid-treated (ALA), diabetic rats treated with ginger (DM+GN) and diabetic rats treated with alpha-lipoic acid (DM+ALA). After 5 weeks of GN and ALA administration (50 and 30 mg/kg b. wt respectively), hematological, biochemical and histological parameters were investigated. Diabetic rats exhibited a significant decrease in erythrocytic parameters as well as significant increase of fasting blood sugar (FBS), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol (TCh), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), and a decrease in the level of high density lipoprotein (HDL). In addition, diabetic rats showed a significant decrease in hepatic GSH and an increase in the content of malondialdehyde (MDA). The administration of GN and ALA caused a significant decrease in FBS, HbA1c, TCh, TG, and LDL-cholesterol, concomitant with a significant increase in HDL-cholesterol was recorded. Moreover, GN and ALA administration blunted the increase in MDA and stimulated the GSH production in the liver of diabetic rats. The findings of this study indicated that injection of GN and ALA corrected the erythrocytic parameters, lipid profile, blood sugar level in diabetic rats and showed antioxidative properties. Additionally, the therapeutic effect of GN and ALA was confirmed with histopathological examination of pancreas. It could be postulated that; (i) GN and ALA have protective and anti-hyperglycemic effects and (ii) overall anti-diabetic effects of ALA are better than those of GN, at least in this experimental condition.