Study of the protective effects of ginger extract on oxidative stress induced by X-ray radiation in the peripheral blood and liver tissue of male rats

Background: Exposure to ionizing radiation induces reactive oxygen species (ROS) which leads to oxidative stress in the involved tissues. The oxidative stress may be minimized by using natural antioxidant products, such as Zingiber officinale or ginger. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective and antioxidant effects of ginger extract on the inhibition of oxidative stress in the serum and liver tissue of rats after exposure to x-ray irradiation. Methods: Thirty-six Sprague Dawley rats were divided into six groups. Groups 1 and 2 received normal saline and DMSO, respectively; group 3 was placed in a turned-off X-ray device; group 4 was treated with ginger extract (100 mg/kg); groups 5 and 6 received X-radiation (4 Gy) and X-radiation + ginger extract, respectively. All treatments were orally administered once daily for four weeks. The total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured in the serum and liver tissues of the animals. Results: X-ray radiation significantly increased the levels of MDA and TOS and decreased TAC in the serum and liver tissues of irradiated rats compared to those of the control group. Ginger pretreatment prior to X-ray, significantly decreased the MDA and TOS levels and increased the TAC levels in the serum and liver samples of the rats compared to the rats irradiated with X-ray alone. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that ginger acted as a protector against X-ray radiation by suppressing the oxidative stress in the rats’ liver and serum samples.