Abstract Aging is marked by hepatic structural deterioration, inflammation, and impaired autophagy. This study evaluated the effects of dietary ginger ( Zingiber officinale ) on liver aging in Swiss Webster mice across three age groups (3, 6, and 12 months) supplemented with 0.6% or 1.8% ginger powder for three months. Liver samples were assessed for lysosomal enzyme activity, expression of PI3K and TNF-α, histology, and ultrastructure of hepatocytes. Aging induced hepatocellular hypertrophy, mitochondrial damage, and increased lysosomal enzyme activity, particularly arginyl aminopeptidase and acid phosphatase, and β-galactosidase - a widely recognized marker of aging, particularly cellular senescence. Ginger supplementation preserved liver morphology in young and middle-aged mice, while high doses showed mild subcellular stress in older mice. Ginger also suppressed age-related PI3K upregulation and influenced TNF-α expression, indicating potential anti-inflammatory effects. These findings suggest that ginger modulates hepatic aging through lysosomal, inflammatory, and metabolic pathways in an age- and dose-dependent manner. Moderate intake appears most beneficial, supporting its potential as a nutraceutical for liver health during aging.
Matin et al. (Mon,) studied this question.