Ameliorative Effect of Zingiber officinale on Chemical Induced DNA Damage in Rats Using PCR Analysis

Abstract

Ginger rhizomes have been reportedly used in folk medicine for the management of various ailments. This study, therefore, investigates the ameliorative effect of the ethanolic extract of ginger (Zingiber officinale) rhizomes against DNA damage in rats induced with different carcinogens. Fifteen Wistar rats grouped into 3 of 5 rats per group were used for the study. The first set of blood samples was first collected before the animals were orally treated with heavy metals. After 14 days of induction, the second set of blood was collected. The third phase of blood collection was done after administering an ethanolic extract of Z. officinale for 14 days. The UV wavelength absorption spectrum and conventional PCR analysis were carried out on DNA extracts of all the animals. Cluster analysis of optical density (OD) and PCR data were carried out as well as genomic instability, similarity, and diversity using the best 3 Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers. The PCR –DNA concentration analysis showed the Z. officinale extract's ameliorative effect against lead acetate, cadmium chloride, and arsenic trioxide-induced DNA damage with a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in DNA concentration of the treated rats when compared with induced rats. The cluster analysis of optical density values revealed close similarity between the control animals' DNA, a slight similarity with treated animals' DNA, and a significant difference with the induced animal DNA. These results indicated the ameliorative properties of Z. officinale against these heavy metals induced DNA damage in rats.