Hypolipidemic, Cardioprotective and Antioxidant Effect of Zingiber Officinale L. Extract in Hypertensive Patients: A Clinical Approach

1. Study area and setting The study covered the period of January, 2018 to June, 2018 in the Al-Khidmat Medical and Diagnostic Center Nazimabad No.2, Karachi. This was carried out with the cooperation of Cardiac OPD and Laboratory Department of Al-Khidmat Medical and Diagnostic Center. All procedures were approved by the Independent Ethics Committee (IEC) of International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi (Study Number. 026-HV/HP-2017, Protocol Number. ICCBS/IEC-026-HV/HP-2017/Protocol/2.0) dated December 08, 2017.
2. Study design This was single blind randomized clinical Study of 40 hyperlipidemic patients. The determination of sample size was done on basis of data from past studies and calculated from formula on SPSS. All the newly diagnosed hyperlipidemic patients were recruited according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. the written informed consent in local language was being taken to all before the study. The questionnaires used to record information related to the demographic profile, age, gender, family history, past medical history, past laboratory findings, diagnosis and current treatment. All pateints were examined with blood pressure, pulse rate, total lipid profile and cardio-vascular biomarker.
3. Selection of participants A total 40 newly diagnosed hyperlipidemic patients visiting Cardiac OPD at Al-Khidmat Medical and Diagnostic Center, Nazimabad No. 2 Karachi were selected for this study on basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients were randomized (1:1) using a computer-generated table into two groups: the control group received simvastatin and treated group powder tablets twice a day. Ginger treated group was treated with ginger powder tablets 500mg twice a day (BD) for two month while Simvastatin treated group was maintained on simvastatin 20 mg tablet once a day (OD) for two month. All the patients were over eighteen years of age, conversant in Urdu, consented to be available for participation in eight week study (Two months). The duration of treatment was decided on basis of previous studies carried.

The inclusion criteria included patients were above 18 years age, either male or female with the diagnosis of hyperlipidemia, total cholesterol up to 200-239mg/dl and LDL 100-159mg/dl. They must not receive lipid-lowering drugs for at least 3 months prior to the recruitment and clinical laboratory tests (CBC, Blood Chemistry, and Urinalysis) were within normal ranges. Exclusions criteria were any cardiovascular diseases, seizures, previous liver surgery, poor controlled diabetes, and drug/alcohol dependence, pregnancy and GI ulcer. Subjects receiving antihyperlipidemic agents (Statins, Niacin, Fibrates and Bile Sequestrants) were excluded in recent past. Blinding was maintained by keeping identical packaging of the ginger and simvastatin drugs with different codes, and no aroma was detected from either; the participants were blinded to the treatment allocation. 4. Study protocol Patients that met the above criteria and gave written consent were randomized to the Treatment group (ginger tablet) and the Control group (Simvastatin) for 8 weeks. During the initial evaluations, all patients interviewed by taking patients previous history included the questions about medical illness, medications, allergies and family history of illness and disease status, blood pressure and pulse rate on every visit. Blood sample (5 ml) was taken before and after treatment for total Lipid Profile, SGPT, SGOT, CK-MB and C-RP. Erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) were determined by spectrometric method using Ransod and Ransel kit, respectively. Upon every visit all patients were also screened with their blood pressures, heart rate, sleep pattern by insomnia severity indexed (26) and memory by MMSE (27). Analysis was blinded and was performed at the same laboratory for all patients. All Adverse effects reported during the study period were monitored using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of questions about the occurrence of ADR such as diarrhea, nausea and/or vomiting, abdominal pain, metallic taste, symptoms related to an allergic reaction, headache, dizziness or any other undesirable effect.