Ethanol with ginger: a preliminary screening for possible therapeutic effects

Abstract

The current investigation was designed to determine the methods by which ginger (Zingiber
officinale) may prevent alcohol-induced heart damage in rats. Total carbs, pyruvate, total proteins,
free amino acids, and lactate levels were analyzed in cardiac tissue to determine the metabolic
profiles of carbohydrates. Rats that had consumed too much alcohol had significantly lower levels
of free amino acids and lactate and significantly lower amounts of total carbs and pyruvate. While
free amino acids and lactate levels decreased significantly in cardiac tissues, total carbs and
proteins increased significantly after treatment with ginger (200 mg/kg body weight). Our
findings suggest that ginger's abundance of bioactive chemicals may be responsible for its ability
to shield rat cardiac tissue from the damaging effects of alcohol.