Role of Panax ginseng as an antioxidant after cadmium-induced hepatic injuries

Liver, being primary site for biotransformation of foreign compounds is vulnerable to various chemical assaults. Ginseng has a wide range of pharmacological and therapeutical action. In the present study an attempt has been made to study the cadmium chloride (CdCl2) induced toxicity in liver and its possible protection by Panax ginseng. Swiss albino mice were divided into four groups: (i) Control group – only vehicle (double distilled water) (ii) Ginseng treated group – 10 mg/kg b.wt. orally (iii) CdCl2 treated group – 1.0 mg/kg b.wt. CdCl2 i.p. (iv) Combination group – Ginseng root extract (10 mg/kg b.wt.) and CdCl2 (1.0 mg/kg b.wt.). Activities of alkaline phosphatase, GOT, GPT were measured in serum and lipid peroxidation (LPO) and GSH content were measured in liver. The results indicated a significant increase in LPO, GOT, GPT activities and decrease in GSH and serum alkaline phosphatase activities after CdCl2 treatment. Ginseng alone did not show any significant alterations except a significant decrease in LPO level. Combined treatment of Ginseng and CdCl2 showed significant decrease in LPO, GOT, GPT and elevation in GSH and serum alkaline phosphatase as compared to CdCl2 treated group. Thus, Ginseng is found to be protective against cadmium-induced hepatic injuries.