Evaluation of Rhizome Extract of Zingiber officinale for Anti-Obesity Property in Wistar Rats

Studies have revealed obesity to be a common metabolic disorder worldwide. The treatment and management of obesity include conventional anti-obesity medications which are effective but not without various adverse effects. Hence, the need for discovery of ethnomedicinal agents with anti-obesity properties but with little or no adverse effects. This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of aqueous-methanol extract of Zingiber officinale rhizome on obesity using Wistar rats. Adult Wistar rats were grouped into five (of 5 rats each). Rats in group A were administered normal saline (10 ml/kg p.o) to serve as negative control. Rats in groups. B, C and D were treated with graded doses of the extract (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg p.o). Rats in group E were treated with Xenical (Orlistat; 12 mg/kg p.o) to serve as the positive control. Obesity was induced by administering Cyproheptadine (24 mg/kg i.p) and then feeding the rats ad libitum. The experiment lasted for 28 days and the parameters that were measured during the experiment were water intake, feed intake and body weight. Water was measured using calibrated drinkers on a daily interval, feed consumed daily was also measured daily and the weight was measured every week using weighing balance. Results obtained from the study revealed a dose-dependent reduction in weight of rats treated with the extract and the reduction was comparable to the reduction in the positive control group. Thus, Zingiber officinale has potential in the treatment and management of obesity.