Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) for the treatment and prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology 2018-10, Vol.225, p.297-308
• Main Authors: Cakir, Ufuk, Tayman, Cuneyt, Serkant, Utku, Yakut, Halil Ibrahim, Cakir, Esra, Ates, Ufuk, Koyuncu, Ismail, Karaogul, Eyyup
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-inflammation; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - therapeutic use; Apoptosis - drug effects; Caspase 3 - metabolism; Caspase 8 - metabolism; Cytokines - metabolism; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing - drug therapy; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing - metabolism; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing - prevention & control; Ginger, anti-oxidation; Glutathione Peroxidase - metabolism; Intestinal Mucosa - metabolism; Intestines - drug effects; Intestines - pathology; Malondialdehyde - metabolism; Necrotizing enterocolitis; Newborn; Peroxidase - metabolism; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Prevention; Rat; Rats, Wistar; Superoxide Dismutase - metabolism; Xanthine Oxidase - metabolism; Zingiber officinale
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2018.07.009

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most important gastrointestinal emergency affecting especially preterm infants and causes severe morbidities and mortality. However, there is no cure. Oxidant stress, inflammation, apoptosis, as well as prematurity are believed to responsible in the pathogenesis of the disease. Ginger and its compounds have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-oxidant properties and immunomodulatory, cytoprotective/regenerative actions. This study aimed to evaluate the beneficial effects of ginger on the intestinal damage in an experimental rat model of NEC. Thirty newborn Wistar rats were divided into three groups: NEC, NEC + ginger and control in this experimental study. NEC was induced by injection of intraperitoneal lipopolysaccharide, feeding with enteral formula, hypoxia-hyperoxia and cold stress exposure. The pups in the NEC + ginger group were orally administered ginger at a dose of 1000 mg/kg/day. Proximal colon and ileum were excised. Histopathological, immunohistochemical (TUNEL for apoptosis, caspase 3 and 8) and biochemical assays including xanthine oxidase (XO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), malonaldehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin1β (IL-1β), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) activity were evaluated. Compared with the NEC group, the rat pups in the NEC + ginger group had better clinical disease scores and weight gain (p