Modulatory Effects (Anti-diabetic and Anti-oxidant) of Ginger, Garlic, and their Mix on Streptozotocin-Nicotinamide Induced Diabetic Rats

Diabetes is a major challenge to healthcare systems all over the world. It is a metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia resulted from the disturbance of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolisms due to the defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. Oxidative stress caused by the effect of hyperglycemia result in many complications such as hepatopathy, nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy, and cardiovascular diseases. The present study was designed to clarify the antihyperglycemic and anti-oxidant effects of ginger, garlic, and their mix in comparison to the widely used hypoglycemic drug "metformin". For this purpose, 80 male Albino rats fed on standard laboratory diet were used and were divided randomly into 10 groups. The experiment continued for 42 days for studying clinico-pathological changes including hematological parameters, liver and kidney function tests, and some anti-oxidant enzymes activity. At the end of the experiment complete urine analysis was done and tissues of liver, kidney, and pancreas were collected for histopathological examination. Results of diabetic control group revealed presence of microcytic hypochromic anemia, neutrophilic leukocytosis, elevated HbA1c, hyperglycemia, liver and kidney functions impairment in association with reduction in anti-oxidant enzymes activity. Study results revealed the oral administration of ginger, garlic, and their mix improve the diabetic associated hematological, chemical, and histopathological changes when compared to that of diabetic control group. It clears that, ginger and garlic extracts had both antihyperglycemic and anti-oxidant effects on STZ-nicotinamide induced diabetic rats. Further studies are needed to determine its protective effects on the other diabetes complications.