Antihepatotoxic activity of ginger ethanol extract in rats

The effect of an ethanol extract of ginger was studied on country-made liquor (CML)-induced liver injury in rats. Hepatotoxicity was induced by administering CML (3 ml/100 g/day in 2 divided doses) and corn oil (1 ml/100 g/day, in a single dose) orally for 21 days. The administration of ginger ethanolic extract (200 mg/kg) orally from day 15 to day 21 along with CML produced significant (P < 0.01) lowering of serum AST, ALT, ALP, gamma-GTP and tissue lipid peroxide levels. The results were comparable to silymarin (25 mg/kg, orally). The study shows that the reduction of liver damage by ethanol ginger extract treatment involves several mechanisms.