Comparative effect of ginger (an anti-inflammatory medicinal herb) and aspirin (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) on liver enzymes in male albino Wistar rats

Abstract

Background:Herbal therapies mediate similar functions with those of some well-known drugs. Ginger and aspirin are herbal and drug therapies respectively which are used for the treatment of anti-inflammatory conditions. Non-steroidal medicinal drugs especially aspirin and acetaminophen are usually linked to drug-induced liver injury. Therefore, this research seeks to compare the effect of these two therapies on liver function using aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) as the biomarkers. The aim of the study was to establish if ginger will offer a better hepatocellular protection considering that the use of aspirin in treating inflammatory disorders is already linked to liver injury.

Methods: AST, ALT, ALP, Total, conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin were assessed in this study using 18 Wistar rats. The animals were divided into three groups (control, ginger and aspirin), six (6) rats per group. The three groups of animals were allowed access to food and water daily throughout the experimental period. Ginger group animals were administered 150 mg/kg dose of aqueous ginger extract while aspirin group of animals also received 150 mg/kg dose of aspirin for four weeks. Control group received normal saline of equal volume with the test groups.

Results: AST, ALT, total and conjugated bilirubin was significantly lower in ginger group compared to aspirin and the control group (P<0.05). However, ALP was significantly higher in ginger group compared to aspirin and the control group (P<0.05). Unconjugated bilirubin showed no significant difference among experimental groups.

Conclusion: Result showed that ginger offered a better hepatocellular protection compared to aspirin group following decrease AST and ALT concentration in the ginger group.