Högskolan i Skövde

The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of Zingiber zerumbet Linn powder on sodium arsenite-induced changes of blood indices in experimental mice. Swiss albino male mice were divided into four groups. The first group was used as control, while the second, third and fourth groups were treated with Z. zerumbet (L.) powder, sodium arsenite and Z. zerumbet (L.) powder plus sodium arsenite, respectively. Animals (third and fourth groups) were exposed to sodium arsenite at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight/day for 12 weeks. Exposure to sodium arsenite revealed a significant (p < 0.05) increase of serum urea, uric acid, triglyceride (TG), glucose levels and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. Serum butyryl cholinesterase (BChE) activity significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in sodium arsenite-treated group as compared with control group. Interestingly, food supplemented with Z. zerumbet (L.) (50 mg/kg body weight/day) showed protective effect against sodium arsenite-induced increase of serum urea, uric acid and TG levels except serum glucose levels. Moreover, Z. zerumbet (L.) also abrogated the sodium arsenite-induced changes of BChE and ALP activities. Therefore, the ameliorating effects of Z. zerumbet (L.) on sodium arsenite-treated mice suggested the future application of Z. zerumbet (L.) to reduce or prevent arsenic toxicity in human.