Abstract

Lead acetate is an example of heavy metals that for decades being known for its adverse effects on various body organs and systems such that their functions are compromised. In the present study, the ability of lead to adversely affect the liver tissue apoptosis was investigated. Ginger is source of antioxidants was administered orally to prevent the adverse effects of lead acetate. Thirty Wistar rats, randomised into 3 groups (n = 10), were used for this study. Animals in group (A) served as the control and were drinking distilled water. Animals in groups (B) and (C) were drinking 1% lead acetate. Group (C) animals were, in addition to drinking lead acetate, treated with 100 mg/kg/rat of ginger. All treatments were for 10 weeks. The obtained results showed that lead acetate caused a significant reduction in the liver weight, plasma superoxide dismutase and catalase activity, but a significant increase in plasma malondialdehyde concentration, using ginger cause to modified these harmful effects. These findings lead to the conclusion that ginger significantly decreased the adverse harmful effects of lead acetate exposure on the liver as well as lead acetate -induced oxidative stress.

Key words: Apoptosis, ginger, lead acetate, liver, reactive oxygen species.