Protective effects of dietary ginger (Zingiber officinales Rosc.) on lindane-induced oxidative stress in rats

The protective effect of dietary feeding of Zingiber officinales Rosc. (ginger) against lindane-induced oxidative stress was investigated in male albino rats. Oxidative stress was monitored by estimating the extent of lipid peroxidation, activities of the oxygen free radical (OFR) scavenging enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) and the status of the glutathione redox cycle antioxidants. Lindane administration (30 mg/kg bw orally for 4 weeks) was associated with enhanced lipid peroxidation and compromised antioxidant defenses in rats fed a normal diet. Concomitant dietary feeding of ginger (1%w/w) significantly attenuated lindane-induced lipid peroxidation, accompanied by modulation of OFR scavenging enzymes as well as reduced glutathione (GSH) and the GSH dependent enzymes glutathione peroxidase (Gpx), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in these rats. These findings suggest that a diet containing naturally occurring compounds is effective in exerting protective effects by modulating oxidative stress.