Beneficial effect of Zingiber officinale on olanzapine-induced weight gain and metabolic changes.

AIM: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of Zingiber officinale (ZO) extract on weight gain, food intake, locomotor activity, and lipid and glucose metabolism in olanzapine-treated rats.
METHODS: The hydroalcoholic extract of ZO was prepared by macerating the coarse dry powder in 70% v/v ethanol for 7 days, filtered, and concentrated under reduced pressure. Animals were divided into six groups containing six animals in each. Three doses of extract (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) were co-administered with olanzapine 2 mg/kg i.p for 21 days. Bodyweight and food intake were recorded at the interval of three days and locomotor activity once a week. At the end of the study oral glucose tolerance test was performed followed by the estimation of lipid profile.
RESULTS: Co-administration of hydroalcoholic extract of ZO with olanzapine ameliorated olanzapine-induced weight gain and hyperphagia. Similarly, ZO extract also improved pancreatic β-cell function and glucose and lipid metabolism.
CONCLUSIONS: ZO extract ameliorated olanzapine-induced weight gain and hyperphagia by improving pancreatic β-cell functions and lipid metabolism. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021.