Possible Cardio-Protective Effect of Ginger and Lipoic Acid on Normal Senile Female Rats

Abstract

cardiovascular disease and oxidative stress are involved in aging. Aging causes many alternations in myochardial function and metabolism. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of aging on heart function, total antioxidant capacity and membrane lipid composition and the effects of oral administration of ginger and lipoic acid for 30 days. The levels of serum lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase and heart antioxidant capacity exhibited marked alterations in normal senile female rats. The treatment of ginger and lipoic acid for 30 days improved these alterations. Furthermore, the relationship between membrane lipid composition and aging was detected. There were significant increases in lauric and myristic acids and significant decrease in arachidic acid in senile rats. On the other hand, the unsaturated fatty acids (olic, linoleic, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaaenoic acid (DHA) were significantly decreased. Ginger treatment showed significant decreases in saturated fatty acids. In lipoic acids treatment group, there was a significant improvement in the level of unsaturated fatty acids (EPA and DHA) as compared with normal senile female rats. In conclusion, ginger and lipoic acid may have ameliorative effect of heart function, total antioxidant capacity and membrane free fatty acids in old female rats