Effects of ginger extract on activities of antioxidant enzymes and phase II detoxifying enzymes in benzo( α ) pyrene- treated rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ginger extract on activities of antioxidant enzymes and phase II enzymes in benzo( α) pyrene( Bα P)- treated rats.Wistar rats were fed by gavage with different doses of ginger extract 100,200 and 400 mg / kg·bw for 14 days. After 14 day of feeding,20 mg / kg·bw of Bα P was intraperitoneally injected to the rats.Afterwards,the animals were sacrificed and their livers and kidneys were collected for analysis of antioxidant enzymes and phase II enzymes. Results showed that three doses of ginger extract did not significantly affect body weight of the rats( p > 0.05),as well as the organs to body weight ratios( p > 0.05). Compared with the BαP group,both 200 and 400 mg /kg·bw of ginger extract significantly elevated the activities of glutathione peroxidase( GPx) and catalase( CAT) in liver,as well as the activities of quinone reductase( NQO1) and glutathione S-transferase( GST) in liver and kidney( p < 0.05).These results suggested that ginger extract could improve the activities of antioxidant enzymes and phase II enzymes in rats.