Protective effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale) against metalaxyl induced hepatotoxicity in albino mice

Abstract: The present work studied the effect of metalaxyl, an acylalanine fungicide, on the liver of albino mice and the possible role played by the aqueous extract of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) in attenuating the hepatotoxicity of metalaxyl. Metalaxyl treatment induced many histological changes in the liver including congestion of blood vessels, cytoplasmic vacuolization of the hepatocytes, necrosis and fatty degeneration. Metalaxyl caused marked elevation in serum ALT and AST. It also caused an increase in malondialdehyde and depletion of the activity of the antoxidant enzymes, catalase and superoxide dismutase in the liver.Treating animals with metalaxyl and ginger extract led to an improvement in both the histological and biochemical alterations induced by metalaxyl. Moreover, ginger reduced the level of malondialdehyde and increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes, SOD and CAT. These results indicated that ginger have protective effect against liver damage induced by metalaxyl and this may be attributed to its antioxidant and free radicals scavenging properties. [Hawazen A. Lamfon. Protective effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale) against metalaxyl induce