Many spices have been shown to impart an antioxidative effect in foods. This study summarized the literature on the antioxidative effects of spices. The term spice is defined as dry plant material that is normally added to food to impart flavor. The methanolic crude extracts of Allium sativum, Coriandrum sativum, Cuminum cyminum, Zingiber officinale, Cinnamomum verum, Elettaria cardamomum and Cinnamomum tamala were screened for their free radical scavenging properties using ascorbic acid as standard antioxidant. Free radical scavenging activity was evaluated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical. The overall antioxidant activity of Cuminum cyminum was found to be the strongest, followed in descending order by Z. officinale, C. sativum, A. sativum, C. tamala, C. verum, E. cardamomum. The IC50 values of the extracts ranged between 15.48 and 217.431 (microg mL(-1)). The ascorbic acid levels was 22.78 (microg mL(-1)) the present study revealed that the selected plants would exert several beneficial effects by virtue of their antioxidant activity and could be harnessed as drug formulation.

Hyperlipidemia is an important modifiable risk factor contributing to atterosclerosis in diabetes mellitus. Zingiber officinale (ginger) widely consumed as spice is known for its hypoglycemic and hypochlosteremic actions. The present study was undertaken to investigate anti-hyperlipidemic action of ginger juice in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Male Wister rats, 130-150 g wt, fed on standard diet and water ad libitum were divided into 4 groups (n=6 in each group): group I nondiabetic control, group II non-diabetic treated; group III diabetic control and group IV diabetic treated. Diabetes was induced by Inj. alloxan 150 mg Kg -1 b.w., i.p. (group III & IV) on Day 2. Rats having blood glucose level of >7 mmol/l on day 5 (72 hrs after alloxan Inj.) were considered diabetic and selected for experimentation. Both non-diabetic and diabetic treated groups (Gr II & IV) received Zingiber officinale (ginger) juice (4 ml Kg -1 b.w., p.o.) for 10 days (day 2-day 11) through Ryles tube. On Day 12, animals were sacrificed under light ether anaesthesia, blood was collected by cardiac puncture and serum separated for estimation of lipids.Zingiber officinale (ginger) juice significantly (p<0.01) decreased alloxan induced hyperglycemia (group IV), but had no effect on blood glucose level in normal rats (group II); significantly (p<0.001) reduced alloxan induced hyperlipidemia, but produced no significant lipid lowering effects in normal rats (group II).The results suggest a significant anti-hyperlipidemic action of Zingiber officinale (ginger) juice in alloxan induced diabetic rats. The findings may be clinically significant and exploited.Ibrahim Med. Coll. J. 2012; 6(2): 55-58

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The experimental animal study was undertaken to investigate the preventive role ginger juice against hyperglycemia in alloxan induced diabetic rats.Male wistar rats,(130-150)gm wt fed on standard diet and water ad libitum, were divided into 3 groups(n=6) in each group: Group-L non-diabetic control group, Group-II, diabetic control & Group-III, normal rats pretreated with ginger before they were made diabetics. Diabetes was induced by inj. alloxan 150mg/kg body wt.,tp (Group-IL on 2nd day & Group-Ill, on the 9th day).Rats having blood glucose level of more than 7mmol/L on day 5(72 hours after alloxan inj) were considered diabetic & selected for experiment. Rats of Group-Ill received Zingiber officinale (ginger juice) (4m1/kg.body,wt orally) for 7 days (day 2-day8) through Pyles tube before alloxan induction & 3days after the induction. On day 12, animals were sacrificed under light ether anaesthesia, blood was collected by cardiac puncture for blood glucose estimation. Pretreatment with Zingiber officinale (ginger) juice significantly (p<0.01) reduced alloxan induced hyperglycemia.Zingiber officinale (ginger) is one of the most widely used spices and is reputed to have medicinal properties against diabetes mellitus. This study suggests that pretreatment with Zingiber officinale(ginger) prevents the development of hyperglycemia in alloxan induced diabetic rats.