Beneficial effects of <i>Zingiber officinale </i>Roscoe on fructose induced hyperlipidemia and hyperinsulinemia in rats

Abstract

Fructose supplementation produced cardinal features of Syndrome-X including significant elevations in serum cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose and insulin and also in body weight. While treatment with methanolic extract of dried rhizomes of <i>Zingiber officinale </i>produced a significant reduction in fructose induced elevation in lipid levels, body weight, hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia, treatment with ethyl acetate extract of Z. <i>officinale </i>did not produce any significant change in either of the last two parameters. However, it produced a significant reduction in elevated lipid levels and body weight. The concentration of 6-gingerol was found to be higher in methanolic extract and less in ethyl acetate extract. The

results suggest that the methanolic extract of Z. <i>officinale </i>produces better effects as compared to ethyl acetate extract in fructose induced hyperlipidemia associated with insulin resistance. The extent of activity appears to be dependent on the concentration of 6-gingerol present in the extracts.