Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Journal Volume 3 Issue 1 Endocrinol Diabetes Metab J, Volume 3(1): 1–3, 2019 Research Open Research Article Oral Glucose Tolerance Test with Cooked Rhizomes of Zingiber Ofcinale (Ginger) Mohammed Abdul Mannan 1 , Khoshnur Jannat 2 , Mohammed Rahmatullah 2 * 1 Department of Unani Medicine, Faculty of Unani and Ayurvedic Medicine, Hamdard University of Bangladesh, Munshigonj, Dhaka, Bangladesh 2 Department of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Lalmatia, Dhaka, Bangladesh *Corresponding author: Prof. Mohammed Rahmatullah, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, House 4/4, Block-A, Lalmatia, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh; Tel: +88 0171503262; Email: rahamatm@hotmail.com Received: December 01; Accepted: December 12, 2018; Published: January 02, 2019; Abstract Rhizomes of Zingiber ofcinale (ginger) are used as a spice in many culinary dishes of Bangladesh. Since a number of scientifc reports are present on the benefcial efects of raw ginger in Type 2 diabetes mellitus, it was of interest to determine the anti-hyperglycemic efcacy of cooked (boiled) ginger through oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in mice. The OGTT results showed that when administered at doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight, methanolic extract of cooked ginger (MEZOC) reduced blood glucose in glucose-loaded mice by 8.0, 20.3, 29.2, and 32.0%, respectively. By comparison, a standard antihyperglycemic drug, glibenclamide, when administered at a dose of 10 mg per kg, reduced blood glucose levels by 48.8%. The results suggest that cooked ginger retains efciency in lowering blood glucose. Since cooking causes ginger to be less pungent, partaking of ginger in such a manner may prove to be more acceptable to diabetic patients and help control their blood glucose concentrations. Key words: diabetes, ginger, OGTT, Zingiber ofcinale, Zingiberaceae Introduction Te prevalence of diabetes and particularly Type 2 diabetes is increasing throughout the world. [1] Te disease is characterized by high blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia) and cannot be completely cured with allopathic or traditional medicines, although drugs are available to reduce elevated blood glucose levels. Lef unchecked, hyperglycemia can lead to both microvascular and macrovascular complications. [2] Since blood glucose and any other associated complications arising from diabetes needs continuous monitoring and may necessitate visits to doctors and taking of costly drugs, treatment is costly and on the most part unafordable and unavailable to the rural population and particularly the poorer sections of the rural people of Bangladesh. As such, the rural people of Bangladesh and indeed many other countries are dependent on traditional medicinal practitioners, who mostly use plant-based medicines for lowering elevated blood glucose [3]. Te rhizomes of Zingiber ofcinale Roscoe (Zingiberaceae), otherwise known as ginger have found use in ethnomedicine for treatment of diabetes. [4] Diferent scientifc studies have also shown that ginger can reduce hyperglycemia and ameliorate diabetes- induced complications. [4–6] However, in the various scientifc studies conducted thus far on humans or animals, either raw ginger or dried ginger powder or various solvent extracts of raw or dried ginger were used. Ginger is a very popular spice in Bangladesh and used in a number of culinary dishes. People also drink hot tea in which raw ginger slices have been steeped to alleviate coughs, cold and sore throat. Raw ginger is pungent in taste and is ofen disliked. On the other hand cooked or boiled ginger loses the pungency and can be consumed without any possible dislikes. It was therefore of interest to determine whether cooked (boiled) rhizome slices of Z. ofcinale retains its antihyperglycemic property as determined through oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Te objective of the present study was to evaluate the oral glucose tolerance efcacy of methanol extracts of cooked rhizomes of Z. ofcinale (MEZOC). Methods and Materials Plant material collection Rhizomes of Z. ofcinale were collected from a vegetable market in Dhaka city. Te rhizomes were identifed by a competent botanist at the University of Development Alternative. Preparation of methanolic extract of cooked Z. Ofcinale rhizomes (MEZOC) For preparation of methanol extract of cooked rhizomes of Z. ofcinale, rhizomes were sliced and cooked (boiled) in water for 30 minutes. 50g of the powder was extracted with 250 ml methanol over 48 hours. Methanol was evaporated at 40 o C and the extract was dissolved in Tween 20 prior to administration to mice by gavaging. Te fnal weight of the extract was 2.17g. Chemicals and Drugs Glibenclamide and glucose were obtained from Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Bangladesh. All other chemicals were of analytical grade. Glucometer and strips were purchased from Lazz Pharma, Bangladesh.