Effects of Zingber mioga aqueous extract on hepatic anti-alcoholism in mice.

[Objectives] To study the anti-alcoholism effects of Zingber mioga（Thunb） Rosc aqueous extract（ZME） in drunken mice. [Methods] After all animals were administered with red star Erguotou by gavage to drunk, orally given ZME [0.4 mL/（10 g·BW）] or isometric saline. Neptunus Drinking [0.5 mL/（10 g·BW）] was used as positive control to compare the anti-alcoholism function. Then the time of righting reflex and climbing test, the activity of ADH and ALDH were measured. [Results] ZME（0.4 mL/10 g） can accelerate ethanol metabolism, also reduce the sober time and extend the time of climbing significantly. Meanwhile, the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase（ADH） and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase（ALDH） were obviously increased in mouse liver. The lower ethanol and acetaldehyde concentrations in the assay systems after enzyme reactions mean higher ADH and ALDH activities. [Conclusions]ZME can prevent drunkenness by enhancing the activities of ADH and ALDH in liver.