Abstract

Uterine fibroids (UFs) are non-cancerous tumors of the uterus that often lead to significant health issues such as bleeding, pain, and infertility. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of ginger extract on the lipid profile and liver function in uterine fibroid-induced rats. Thirty adult female Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups: a negative control group, a UF group, and a UF group treated with ginger ethanolic extract (GEE) at a dose of 100 mg/kg/day for six weeks. The results showed that rats with uterine fibroids exhibited significant biochemical alterations. Serum total cholesterol (T.C) was significantly elevated (273.3±7.4 mg/dl), along with triglycerides (T.G) (245.8±16.9 mg/dl), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (186.3±10 mg/dl), while high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels were significantly decreased (37.3±1.02 mg/dl). Moreover, glucose levels were elevated (181.4±40.3 mg/dl), indicating metabolic dysfunction. In terms of liver function, there was a notable increase in liver enzyme activities: alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (74.2±7.11 U/L), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (98.8±8.6 U/L), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (164.4±7.4 U/L), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) (14.6±1.7 U/L), suggesting liver damage and dysfunction. Treatment with GEE (100 mg/kg/day) led to significant improvements in these parameters. Serum T.C was reduced to (127.7±6.6 mg/dl), T.G to (120.6±15 mg/dl), and glucose to (102.9±0.7 mg/dl). Furthermore, liver enzyme levels decreased significantly: ALT (40±3.3 U/L), AST (70.5±8.6 U/L), ALP (89±5.7 U/L), and GGT (7.5±0.6 U/L), suggesting the therapeutic potential of GEE. These results indicate that ginger extract has a beneficial effect in managing lipid metabolism and liver function in uterine fibroid-induced rats, demonstrating its potential as a therapeutic agent for uterine fibroids.

Keywords: 

Uterine fibroids, ginger extract, lipid profile, liver function, biochemical parameters.