Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Ginger, the rhizome of Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Zingiberaceae), a perennial herbaceous plant is native to
Southern Asia. Study was aimed to evaluate antioxidant and antidiabetic potential of ginger extract and its characterization.
Possiblemode of action to elicit antidiabetic activity was also evaluated. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ethyl acetate extract of ginger (EAG) was evaluated for its antioxidant activity in terms of DPPH radical
scavenging potential with an IC50 value of 4.59 μg/ml. Antidiabetic activity of EAG was evaluated by estimating antiglycation
potential (IC50 290.84 μg/ml). HPLC profiling of EAG revealed the presence of phenolic components, gingerol and shoagol as
major constituents. After determining sub-toxic concentration of EAG (50 μg/ml), efficacy of extract to enhance glucose uptake
in cell lines were checked in L6 mouse myoblast and myotubes. EAG was effective at 5 μg/ml concentration in both cases.
Antibody based studies in treated cells revealed the effect of EAG in expressing Glut 4 in cell surface membrane compared to
control.CONCLUSION: The antidiabetic effect of ginger was experimentally proved in the study and has concluded that the activity is
initiated by antioxidant, antiglycation and potential to express or transport Glut4 receptors from internal vesicles.
