Effect of Panax ginseng on some changed biochemical parameters in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Background: Panax ginseng root contains insulin like substances beside a mixture of saponin compounds responsible for its antioxidant activity. Objectives: The present work was carried out to investigate the effect of ginseng root extract (GRE) on some biochemical parameters in alloxan induced diabetic rats. Methods: Rats were divided into two main groups, the first group (control group) and the second group (diabetic group) in which the healthy rats were rendered diabetic, after 18 hours fasting, by a subcutaneous injection of a single dose of alloxan (120 mg/kg Body Weight “BW”). Three diabetic subgroups were treated orally with a daily dose of GRE (100 mg/kg BW) for 7, 14, and 21days, respectively. However, three subgroups were left diabetic without treatment for 7, 14, and 21 days. Results: Glucose 6- phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and 6-phospho-gluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH) activities were significantly (P<0.0001) increased in the kidney extract of the diabetic rats after one week of diabetes induction. However, their activities in the liver extract were significantly decreased. Treatment of diabetic rats with GRE for 3 weeks showed restoration of the activities of G6PDH and 6PGDH in both kidney and liver. The abnormal elevations of kidney weight and the levels of glucose, glucose-6-phosphate, fructose and sorbitol in the kidney were markedly improved after treatment of diabetic rats with GRE. In addition, the level of serum glucose and potassium were significantly (p<0.0001) increased in all diabetic groups compared to control group. Conversaly, serum sodium level was decreased (hyponatreimia) in all diabetic groups. Treatment of diabetic rats with a single daily dose of GRE (100mg/BW) improved the abnormal changes of these parameters over all the periods of treatment especially after the 21 days of treatment.