Evaluation of immunostimulatory and antioxidant activities of ginger and moringa extracts against paracetamol induced hepatic damage in rats

Abstract EN

The present study was conducted to investigate the ameliorative effect of both Zingiber officinale and Moringa oleifera ethanolic extracts on rats intoxicated by paracetamol through some immunological and antioxidant studies.

One hundred and eighty apparently healthy male albino rats were divided into 12 equal groups, each of 15 rats.

Gp.

(1) kept as control, Gp.

(2) was orally given paracetamol (2g/kg) for 4 weeks, Gp.

(3) was orally given ginger ethanolic extract (200 mg/kg) for 4 weeks, Gp.

(4) was orally given moringa ethanolic extract (200 mg/kg) for 4 weeks, Gp.

(5) was orally given silymarin (200 mg/kg) for 4 weeks.

Gps.

(6,7,8) (prophylaxis groups) were administered ginger, moringa ethanolic extracts or both extracts respectively for 2 weeks then paracetamol for another 2 weeks by the previous doses.

Gps.

(9, 10, 11) were firstly given paracetamol for 2 weeks then the plant extracts for the following 2 weeks.

Gp.

(12) was orally given paracetamol for 2 weeks then silymarin for the other 2 weeks.

Blood samples were collected at the end of the 2nd and 4th week of experiment.

Liver, kidney and spleen specimens were collected and immediately fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin for histopathological examination.

The results showed lymphopenia and granulocytosis in gp.

(2) all over the experiment with increase phagocytic index only at the 2nd week in addition to increase hepatic MDA and reduction in catalase levels compared to the normal control.

The prophylactic groups (6,7,8) manifested good amelioration in the fore mentioned parameters in comparison to treatment ones (9-12).

It could be concluded that the natural plants are effective as a prophylaxis theraby against paracetamol toxicity not as a treatment ones.

Combination of plant extracts with chemical drug (paracetamol) may give a new challenge in the face of diseases.