Standardized ginger (Zingiber officinale) extract reduces bacterial load and suppresses acute and chronic inflammation in Mongolian gerbils infected with cagA⁺Helicobacter pylori

Figures & data

Figure 1.  Structures of the gingerols and shogoal from ginger rhizome extract.

Figure 2.  Outline of prevention and treatment studies in Mongolian gerbils infected with Helicobacter pylori (Hp) strain B128. In the prevention study, treatment chow was started 3 weeks prior to infection and lasted a total of 9 weeks prior to sacrifice (Sac). In the treatment study, treatment was started 6 weeks post-infection and lasted for 4 weeks, with a return to normal chow for 4 weeks following treatment, prior to sacrifice.

Table 1.  Grading criteria for chronic inflammation and activity of gastritis.

Grade	Chronic inflammation	Activity
0	no increase in number of inflammatory cells	same
1	uniform infiltration of lamina propria by lymphocytes, plasma cells, and some eosinophils	scattered neutrophils in the lamina propria with no leukopedesis in the region of the gastric pits
2	moderately dense infiltration of the lamina propria by lymphocytes and plasma cells	moderate number of neutrophils in the lamina propria with microabscess in the region of gastric pits
3	very dense lymphoplasma cell infiltration in the lamina propria	extensive neutrophils in the lamina propria with obvious cryptitis

Table 2.  Bacterial load and inflammation induced by Helicobacter pyrlori infection in Mongolian gerbils fed a normal diet or a diet supplemented with standardized ginger extract: prevention study.

Expt.	Food	Colonies	CI		Lymph	AI		C	ED	E
			M	S		M	S
1	Control	77.83	2.20	1.60	0.80	2.00	1.30	0.80	1.80	1.80
1	Ginger	56.71	1.00*	0.25**	0.25	0.60*	0.00**	0.25*	0.25**	0.00**

Seven animals per arm; gerbils were fed a normal diet throughout (Purina 5001 chow; control) or a normal diet supplemented with 100 mg ginger extract /kg body weight in daily rations for 3 weeks prior to inoculation and 6 weeks after (9 weeks total); inflammation was graded using the criteria of Table 1. Colonies = bacterial load in log cfu per stomach; CI = chronic inflammation; Lymph = Lymphocyte infiltration; AI = acute inflammation; M = mucosal; S = submucosal; C = cryptitis; ED = epithelial cell degeneration; E = erosion. Mean value was significantly different from that of the control group: *P<0.05, **P<0.01.

Table 3.  Bacterial load and inflammation induced by Helicobacter pyrlori infection in Mongolian gerbils fed a normal diet or a diet supplemented with standardized ginger extract: treatment study.

Expt.	Food	Colonies	CI		Lymph	AI		C	ED	E
			M	S		M	S
2	Control	70.40	2.25	3.00	1.50	3.00	2.00	1.00	2.00	2.00
2	Ginger	75.00	2.66	2.50	1.00	2.66	2.16	0.83	1.66	1.83

Eight per arm; gerbils were fed a normal diet throughout (Purina 5001 chow; control) or a normal diet supplemented with 100 mg ginger extract /kg body weight in daily rations for 4 weeks (6 weeks after inoculation) and then returned to normal chow for another 4 weeks; inflammation was graded using the criteria of Table 1. Colonies = bacterial load in log cfu per stomach; CI = chronic inflammation; Lymph = Lymphocyte infiltration; AI = acute inflammation; M = mucosal; S = submucosal; C = cryptitis; ED = epithelial cell degeneration; E = erosion.