Ameliorative Actions of Garlic (Allium sativum) and Ginger (Zingiber officinale) on Biomarkers of Diabetes and Diabetic Nephropathy in Rats: Comparison to Aspirin

Garlic and ginger have been shown to have positive effects in the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced rat model of diabetes. Diabetic rats were treated with either raw garlic or ginger extract (500 mg kg(-1) intraperitoneally (IP)), or aspirin (10 mg kg(-1) IP) for 8 weeks. The dramatic weight loss and increased water and food intake as well as urine output of diabetic rats was improved by ginger while garlic treatment of diabetic animals resulted in a modest weight gain and decreased food (but not water) intake and urine output. Blood glucose and serum creatinine, fructosamine and uric acid were significantly elevated in diabetic rats and were significantly lowered by ginger and garlic. In contrast, serum protein, albumin and insulin levels decreased significantly in diabetic rats while the ginger and garlic-treated diabetic rats had increased serum levels of protein, albumin and insulin. Total urine protein, albumin and albumin/creatinine ratio were significantly elevated in diabetic animals and both garlic and ginger treatments resulted in significant decrease. In contrast, urine uric acid was significantly decreased in diabetic rats and significantly elevated by ginger and garlic. Glycated haemoglobin (Glib) levels increased over 3-fold in erythrocytes of diabetic rats with both ginger and garlic-treated rats showing a significant decrease in Glib levels. Aspirin-treated diabetic animals only exhibited a significant decrease in blood glucose after 8 weeks of treatment with no other parameters being significantly changed compared to diabetic controls. This study suggested that ginger and garlic are effective in reversing diabetic symptoms especially in the kidney.