Ginger extract ameliorates phosphamidon induced hepatotoxicity

Area of Science:

• Toxicology
• Natural Product Chemistry
• Hepatology

Background:

• Organophosphorus (OP) compounds, widely used as pesticides, pose significant health risks.
• Phosphamidon (PHO), an OP insecticide, is known to induce hepatotoxicity.
• Oxidative stress and apoptosis are key mechanisms in PHO-induced liver injury.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the protective effects of ginger extract (GE) against phosphamidon (PHO)-induced hepatotoxicity in a rat model.
• To evaluate the impact of GE on oxidative stress markers and apoptotic pathways in the liver.

Main Methods:

• GE was prepared and characterized for its antioxidant properties.
• Rats were administered a sub-lethal dose of PHO for varying durations (5-20 days).
• Four groups received simultaneous treatment with GE (1 mg/kg body weight) alongside PHO, while control groups received PHO alone.

Main Results:

• PHO administration led to increased oxidative stress markers, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and DNA fragmentation in liver cells.
• GE treatment significantly attenuated these markers, indicating a reduction in oxidative stress.
• GE administration also mitigated the upregulation of apoptotic markers and reduced the incidence of apoptotic nuclei in hepatocytes.
• GE demonstrated no observable toxicity or mortality at doses up to 100 mg/kg for 30 days.

Conclusions:

• Ginger extract (GE) effectively protects against phosphamidon (PHO)-induced hepatotoxicity.
• GE ameliorates PHO-induced liver injury by reducing oxidative stress and inhibiting apoptosis.
• GE is a safe, economical, and effective natural agent for managing OP pesticide-induced liver damage.