Ameliorative Effect of Dietary Zingiber officinale (Ginger) on Lead-Induced Gastrointestinal Damage in Wistar Rats

Authors

  • Olamide Samuel Olayemi Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Ilesa, Osun State, Nigeria
  • Kolade Pelumi Folorunso Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Ilesa, Osun State, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6999-3886
  • Luqman Adepoju Hassan Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Ilesa, Osun State, Nigeria
  • Rasheed Tunde Lawal Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Ilesa, Ilesa, Osun, State, Nigeria
  • Oluwabukola Margaret Oladele Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Ilesa, Osun State, Nigeria
  • Oluwafemi Samuel Olaniyi Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Ilesa, Osun State, Nigeria
  • Kehinde Emmanuela Adetoro Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, University of Ilesa, Ilesa, Osun State, Nigeria.
  • Foluso Olamide Ojo Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Ilesa, Osun State, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33003/sajols-2025-0302-49

Abstract

This study investigated the protective effects of a Zingiber officinale (ginger)-supplemented diet against lead (Pb)-induced gastrointestinal damage in female Wistar rats. We assigned twenty-four rats to four groups for 28 days: Control, Lead-Only (30 mg/kg), Lead + 5% Ginger diet, and Lead + 10% Ginger diet. Serum biomarkers for oxidative stress (MDA, TAC) and inflammation (TNF-α, IL-6) were assessed alongside gastric and intestinal histopathology. Lead exposure significantly (p < 0.05) increased serum MDA, TNF-α, and IL-6 and depleted TAC, causing severe gastric necrosis and intestinal villous atrophy. Both 5% and 10% ginger diets dose-dependently reversed these biochemical changes and promoted significant histological repair. Notably, the 10% ginger diet normalized IL-6 levels and nearly restored the intestinal villous architecture. In conclusion, dietary ginger confers potent, dose-dependent protection against lead-induced gastrointestinal toxicity by combating systemic oxidative stress and inflammation. These findings support its use as a functional food for chemoprevention against heavy metal toxicity.

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Published

2025-06-30

How to Cite

Olayemi, O. S., Folorunso, K. P., Hassan, L. A., Lawal, R. T., Oladele, O. M., Olaniyi, O. S., Adetoro, K. E., & Ojo, F. O. (2025). Ameliorative Effect of Dietary Zingiber officinale (Ginger) on Lead-Induced Gastrointestinal Damage in Wistar Rats. Sahel Journal of Life Sciences FUDMA, 3(2), 439–447. https://doi.org/10.33003/sajols-2025-0302-49