ROLE OF GINGER AS BIOENHANCERS IN THE TREATMENT OF DIABETES

Aim and objective: The current study was undertaken to assess the complementary action of ginger as bioenhancer in the treatment of diabetes along with glibenclamide.

Method and Materials: The diabetes in rats was induced by administration of single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin at 65 mg/kg body weight. After 2 days of streptozotocin injection, the hyperglycaemic rats (glucose level > 200 mg/dl) were separated and divided into four groups consisting of six rats in each group. The oral treatment was started from the same day except diabetic control groups for nest three weeks. Body weight of animals in all groups were recorded at 0, 7^th, 15^th and 21^st day Blood samples were withdrawn under mild anaesthesia from tail tip of the overnight fasted animals on 1^st, 7^th, 14^th, and 21^st day. Change in body weights of rats were measured every week. On 21^st day the blood was collected for biochemical estimations by retro orbital puncture. The serum was obtained by centrifuging the blood samples at 3000 rpm for 10 m and used for estimation of SGPT, SGOT, SOD and CAT.

Results: Treatment with glibenclamide and glibenclamide in combination with ginger extract significantly normalized the elevated blood glucose level (P<0.01).. There was a significant reduction of body weights in diabetic control animals. Glibenclamide and glibenclamide in combination with Ginger extract treated groups showed normalisation of reduced body weight as compared to diabetic control group (P<0.01). Serum biomarkers such as SGPT and SGOT level were significantly elevated in diabetic control group. The  animals treated with glibenclamide and glibenclamide in combination with ginger extract, the elevated SGPT and SGOT levels were normalised significantly (p < 0.001, p < 0.01 respectively) as compared to the diabetic control. From antioxidant studies, it was found that STZ induced diabetic control animals showed a significant decrease in the levels of SOD and CAT as compared to normal control. The animals treated with glibenclamide and glibenclamide + ginger extract combination showed significant increase in CAT and SOD (p<0.01 and p<0.001 respectively) as compared to diabetic control.

Conclusions: Intraperitoneal administration of STZ produced cardinal symptoms such as hyperglycemia, loss of body weight, increase in serum biomarkers such as SGPT and SGOT (liver damage), increased oxidative stress due to decrease in antioxidants such as SOD and CAT. The animal groups treated with glibenclamide and glibenclamide in combination with ginger extract showed antidiabetic effect by restoring the above markers. The antidiabetic effects are better in animals treated with combination of glibenclamide and ginger extract in comparison to glibenclamide alone. The findings of the study suggest that, ginger shows complementary action with glibenclamide in the treatment of diabetes. So it can be considered as a safe supplementary in management of diabetes mellitus. Further studies has to conducted, to check whether dosage of glibenclamide can be reduced when it is given along with ginger.

Key words: Diabetes, bioenhancer, ginger, SGOT, SGOT, SOD, CAT