Modulation of xenobiotic metabolism in ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) fed rats

An association between diet and cancer has been documented only in recent decades. Biotransformation enzymes play an important role in the metabolism of xenobiotics that may be bioactivated or bioinactivated. An in vivo experiment was conducted to study the effect of ginger feeding on drug metabolizing enzymes using NIN/male wistar rats. NIN/male wistar rats that were fed with ginger(G) incorporated diet [Control, 0.1, 0.5 and 5%G] for a month and half the animals from all the groups were given 5 mg Benzo(a)pyrene intraperitoneally and after 24 h all the animals were sacrificed and different organs were collected. The drug metabolizing enzymes namely glutathione-s-transferase (GST) and quinone reductase (QR) were estimated in cytosol whereas aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) and uridine diphosphoglucuronyl transferase (UDPGT) were analyzed in microsomes. The enzyme levels were significantly higher in all the carcinogen treated animals compared to their respective controls. Stimulation of GST activity was seen in liver (p < 0.001) of all the carcinogen and ginger treated groups compared to control. However, significant activity was observed in lungs (p < 0.05), in kidney (p < 0.01) and in intestine (p < 0.001) at 1 and 5% level of ginger feeding compared to control. Significant stimulation of QR activity was observed in liver (p < 0.05) of 1 and 5% ginger fed groups. In lung and kidney increase in the activity was seen in 5% level of ginger feeding. However, there was no significant activity in the levels of UDPGT and AHH. The results of this study demonstrate that ginger intake can stimulate the xenobiotic detoxification. Therefore regular consumption of ginger through diet can confer protective effect against the toxic effect of xenobiotics.