Abstract

BIOCHEMICAL EFFECT OF ZINGIBER OFFICINALE (GINGER) ON INFLAMMATORY BIOMARKERS IN WISTAR RATS

Abiodun V. Y.1*, Okunola O. J.2, Omueti F. O.3, Salisu H. O.4, Popoola G. O.5, Abubakar A. B.6, Isiaka B. B.7 Olalekan F. O.8

ABSTRACT

Inflammation is a complex biological response to tissue injury, infection, or exposure to harmful agents. Although conventional anti-inflammatory drugs are effective, their prolonged use is often associated with adverse effects, thereby increasing interest in medicinal plants with therapeutic potential. This study investigated the biochemical effects of Zingiber officinale (ginger) on inflammatory markers in warfarin-induced Wistar rats. Twenty-four healthy adult male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into four groups (n = 5): normal control, warfarin-induced untreated group, warfarin-induced group treated with 100 mg/kg ginger extract, and warfarin-induced group treated with 200 mg/kg ginger extract. Inflammation was induced using warfarin, while the ethanolic ginger extract was administered orally for fourteen consecutive days. Body weight, paw edema, inflammatory biomarkers, oxidative stress indices, antioxidant enzyme activities, haematological parameters, DNA fragmentation, and liver histopathology were evaluated using standard laboratory procedures. The results showed that warfarin administration significantly increased paw edema, C-reactive protein (CRP), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), white blood cell (WBC) count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), DNA fragmentation, and liver tissue degeneration, while significantly reducing body weight, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and platelet count. Treatment with Zingiber officinale significantly reversed these alterations in a dose-dependent manner, with the 200 mg/kg treatment producing greater improvements than the 100 mg/kg dose. Histopathological examination further confirmed that ginger preserved normal liver architecture and markedly reduced inflammatory lesions. The study concludes that Zingiber officinale possesses potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective properties capable of attenuating warfarin-induced inflammation and oxidative stress in Wistar rats. These findings provide scientific evidence supporting the therapeutic potential of ginger as a natural agent for the management of inflammatory disorders.

Keywords: Zingiber officinale, Ginger, Inflammation, Warfarin, Wistar rats, Inflammatory biomarkers, Oxidative stress, Antioxidant enzymes, Hepatoprotection.