ABSTRACT

Hepatotoxicity is defined as injury to the liver or impairment of the liver function caused by exposure to xenobiotic such as drugs, food additives, alcohol, chlorinated solvents, per oxidized fatty acids, fungal toxins, radioactive isotopes, environmental toxic-ants, and even some medicinal plants. Arsenic is typically considered a heavy metal and shares many toxic characteristics with the other heavy metals. Arsenic and lead that continues to be dumped into our waterways and soil, spilled into our atmosphere, and consumed in our food and water. The medicinal use of ginger is well known in India and its neighboring countries for more than 2000 years as one of the most versatile medicinal plants. The medicinal use of Zingiber officinale is well known in India and its neighboring countries for more than 2000 years as one of the most versatile medicinal plants. A total of 30 adults Wistar rat weighing between 110g and 150g were assigned into six groups (A, B, C, D, E and F) of five rats per group. The rats had free access to grower marsh feed (Top feed mills, Nigeria) throughout the experiment. Group A Which served as control were administered 1ml of distilled H₂O, Group B were orally administered 10 mg/kg As₂O₃ only, while group C and D were orally administered aqueous rhizome extract of Zingiber officinale at doses of 190mg/kg and 380mg/kg body weights and Arsenic of 10mg/kg body weights respectively. Group E were administered Arsenic of 10mg/kg body weight and 50 mg/kg body weight of standard drug Silymarin and Group F were administered high doses of Zingiber officinale at 380mg/kg body weight. On the 28th day the rats were sacrificed. At the end of the experiment, the animals were euthanized using chloroform anesthesia. Their liver was harvested and fixed in 10% formal saline and taken to the Histopathology department in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City for histological processing using H&E stains for microscopy. Data were subjected to statistical analysis using the IBM SPSS statistics software (statistical package for social science) (Version25) and relevant statistical values were obtained. e-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried out and data were presented as mean ± SEM.LSD post-hoc test were used. Values of P<0.05 were considered significant. The statistical values obtained converted into graphical representations in the form of bar charts. Results of the Biochemical analysis indicated that Zingiber officinale had no significant effects using (P<0.05) in terms of body weight, hepatic weight or hepatosomatic index, moderates the activities of liver function enzymes and the concentration of the hematological parameters, as well as maintained the oxidative stress on Arsenic-intoxicated Wistar rats. Histological analysis, indicated that the aqueous rhizome extracts of Zingiber officinale extract protected the effects of arsenic-intoxicated rats in a dosage dependent pattern.