Protective Effects of Ginger (Zingiber ofcinale) Extract against Diabetes-Induced Heart Abnormality in Rats

Diabetic cardiomyopathy is an important causal factor in morbidity and mortality among diabetic patients, and
currently, no effective means are available to reverse its pathological progress. Te purpose of the present study was to investigate
the effect of ginger extract on apolipoproteins (apo) A and B, hyperhomocysteinemia, cathepsin G and leptin changes, as well as
cardiac fbrosis and heart muscle cell proliferation under hyperglycemic conditions in vivo.
Methods: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were divided into three groups, namely: control, non-treated diabetic, and ginger extract-treated diabetic groups. Te ginger extract-treated diabetic group received a 50 mg daily dose of ginger extract intragastrically for 6 weeks.
Results: Te results revealed concurrent signifcant increases in plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), homocysteine (Hcy), cathepsin G and apoB levels and decreases in apoA and leptin levels in the non-treated diabetic group compared to the control group.
Moreover, heart structural changes, including fbrosis and heart muscle cell proliferation, were observed in non-treated diabetic
rats compared to the control rats. Signifcant amelioration of changes in the heart structure together with restoration of the elevated levels of Hcy and CRP, leptin, cathepsin G, and apoA and B were found in the ginger extract-treated diabetic group compared to the non-treated diabetic group.
Conclusion: Te fndings indicated that ginger extract signifcantly reduces heart structural abnormalities in diabetic rats and
that these effects might be associated with improvements in serum apo, leptin, cathepsin G, and Hcy levels and with the antioxidant properties of ginger extract.