Journal of Nutrition & Food Sciences
Open Access

Abstract

Ginger Protects the Liver against the Toxic Effects of Xenobiotic Compounds: Preclinical Observations

Raghavendra Haniadka, Arpit Saxena, Arnadi R Shivashankara, Raja Fayad, Princy L Palatty, Nithin Nazreth, Athul Francis, Rajesh Arora and Manjeshwar Shrinath Baliga

According to the World Health Organization, chronic liver disease is a major ailment and causes significant morbidity and mortality in both western and developing countries. However, till date no ideal hepatoprotective agents are available in the modern system of medicine to effective prevent and cure liver ailments. This has necessitated the need to depend on complementary and alternative systems of medicine for liver ailments and diseases. Zingiber officinale Roscoe commonly known as ginger is arguably one of the most commonly used spice, and is an integral part of our diet. In addition to its dietary use, ginger is also reported to possess myriad health benefits, and has been used in the various traditional and folk systems of medicine to treat various ailments and illnesses. Preclinical studies carried out in the past decade have shown that ginger possesses hepatoprotective effects, and to protect against diverse xenobiotic compounds like alcohol, acetaminophen, fungicides, tetracycline, heavy metals and organophosphorus compounds. Mechanistic studies have shown that the protective actions are mediated through free radical scavenging, antioxidant, cytoprotective, and to modulate the levels of the detoxifying enzymes. This review for the first time summarizes the results related to the beneficial properties of ginger in ameliorating the toxic effects of hepatotoxins, and also emphasizes the aspects that warrant future research to establish its activity and utility as a broad spectrum hepatoprotective agent.