Protective Effects of Ginger and Silymarin on Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

There is a close link between hyperglycemia, oxidative stress and diabetic complication. This study was carried out to clarify the effect of ginger and silymarin, as beneficial in the treatment of diabetes. Forty adult male albino rats were used in this study divided into four groups of ten rats each: group 1 represent normal control group, group 2 diabetic groups induced by alloxan, group 3 was diabetic and received daily  ginger, group 4 was diabetic and received daily silymarin. Alloxan-induced diabetic rats, showed a significant increase of plasma glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL–cholesterol, malondialdehyde, nitric oxide and uric acid while HDL–cholesterol and insulin levels are significantly decreased. Glutathione peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase activities were significantly decreased in homogenates of liver and kidney, while malondialdehyde levels were increased in tissue homogenates of liver and kidney. Plasma levels of glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, LDL–cholesterol and uric acid were decreased significantly after treatment with silymarin or ginger, while HDL–cholesterol and insulin were increased. Nitric oxide levels were decreased significantly in rats treated with silymarin only. In liver homogenates of rats treated with silymarin or ginger, malondialdehyde were decreased significantly, and catalase increased significantly, while superoxide dismutase activities and glutathione peroxidase were increased significantly in liver and kidney after silymarin or ginger treatment. The effects of both agents may be useful in delaying the complicated effects of diabetes due to imbalance between free radicals Moreover; silymarin may be more powerful free radical scavenger than ginger.