The radioprotective effect of Zingiber officinales (ginger) against fast neutron-induced oxidative
stress was investigated in male albino rats. Various antioxidant parameters such as glutathione peroxidase (GPx),
glutathione reductase (GR) enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation (LPO) were assayed before and after whole
body exposure to fast neutrons of fluence 105 n/cm2. Moreover, the same parameters were investigated in
irradiated rats pretreated with ginger. Irradiation clearly decreased GPx and GR activity but ginger treatment
before irradiation obviously countered such decrease in the activity of these enzymes. Radiation-induced high
LPO which reduced by ginger treatment before irradiation. Consumption of ginger extract resulted in reductions
of plasma total cholesterol in ginger group (by 17%) and in irradiated group (8%). This study implies that
dietary ginger offers radioprotection at biochemical level by protecting antioxidant enzymes, reducing LPO and
inhibiting the synthesis of cholesterol.