Attenuation of High-fat Diet Induced Body Weight Gain, Adiposity and Biochemical Anomalies after Chronic Administration of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) in Wistar Rats

The aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-obesity effects of the ginger in a rat model of high-fat diet induced obesity. In the preventive study, male Wistar rats were fed high-fat diet along with different doses of ginger (0.25-1 g/kg/day, p.o. o.d). for 8 weeks. In the ameliorative study obese rats were selected after 8 weeks feeding of high-fat diet and then treated with different doses of ginger (0.25-1 g/kg/day, p.o. o.d). for 8 weeks along with high-fat diet or normal chow diet. The effect of these treatments on changes in reed intake, body weight, Lee's index, adipose tissue weight, core body temperature (an index of thermogenesis) and serum biochemicals were analyzed. In preventive study ginger treatment not only decreased body weight gain, Lee's index, adipose tissue weight but also enhanced thermogenesis and improved glucose and lipid homeostasis. These beneficial effects were attenuated by propranolol indicating the role of beta-adrenoceptors. Ginger treatment also ameliorated established obesity and associated biochemical consequences and more so when high-fat diet was replaced with normal diet signifying the importance of dietary modification in successful obesity therapy. Ginger treatment was found devoid of any toxicity as assessed by liver enzyme levels and weights of vital organs. The results suggest that chronic administration of ginger can inhibit the development of obesity and associated metabolic consequences in high-fat diet induced obesity without significant adverse effect.