EFFECT OF ZINGIBER OFFICINALE AND VALERIANA OFFICINALIS ON BIOCHEMICAL PROFILE AND BODY WEIGHTS IN ADULT WISTAR RAT

Shirin Adelpilerood, Morteza Oghbaei and Jamuna Prakash*

ABSTRACT

The influence of two medicinal plants, Zinger officialise and Valeriana officinalis on food intake, weight gain and blood parameters of adult Wistar rats was studied. Forty adult Wistar rats maintained on normal diet were divided into 5 groups, control group (1) was given placebo, and others (2-5) were fed with dry ginger and valerian root powder via gavage at 3 and 6 mg levels respectively for 30 days. A record of food intake and weight gain was maintained. At the end of the study all animals were sacrificed and organs were weighed (spleen, pancreas, kidney and liver). Biochemical indices measured were liver function tests, lipid profile, complete blood count and serum electrolytes. Results revealed that there were no significant differences between control and study group in any of blood parameters and organ weights. There was significant weight loss in both groups fed ginger in comparison to control, though the food intake of all groups was similar. In both valerian fed groups, there was an increase in food intake with higher weight gain. Valerian increased appetite of animals and induced lethargy in comparison to control group. It can be said that ginger possibly increased the metabolic rate thereby decreasing body weight despite normal food intake.

Keywords: Food intake, feed efficiency, liver function tests, lipid profile.