Combinatorial effects of Zingiber officinale and Citrus limon juices: Hypolipidemic and antioxidant insights from in vivo, in vitro, and in silico investigations

Abstract

The combined use of Zingiber officinale (ginger) and Citrus limon (lemon) has long been valued in traditional medicine for their significant therapeutic properties, particularly in supporting cardiovascular health. However, their synergistic effects on hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress, both critical risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, remain underexplored. This study employed a multidisciplinary approach including in vivo (mice model with triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipidemia), in vitro (antioxidant assays such as DPPH and ABTS), and in silico (molecular docking targeting HMG-CoA reductase) to evaluate the hypolipidemic and antioxidant potential of ginger and lemon juices. Phytochemical analysis identified high concentrations of bioactive compounds, with ginger juice containing 6-gingerol (15.54% peak area) and lemon juice featuring hesperidin (13.85% peak area) and rutin (5.57% peak area). These compounds were instrumental in the observed pharmacological effects. The combined formulation significantly improved lipid profiles, reducing total cholesterol by 54.3%, triglycerides by 49.8%, and LDL by 58.1% while increasing HDL by 47.6% compared to hyperlipidemic controls (p < 0.05). Antioxidant assays revealed high free radical scavenging activity, with IC50 values of 30.92 {+/-} 2.00 {micro}g/mL for ABTS and 44.94 {+/-} 1.02 {micro}g/mL for DPPH in the combined formulation. Molecular docking confirmed strong binding affinities, with hesperidin and 6-gingerol showing binding energies of -10.4 kcal/mol and -9.6 kcal/mol, respectively, against HMG-CoA reductase. In conclusion, combining Zingiber officinale and Citrus limon juices demonstrates robust hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects, significantly outperforming the individual juices. These results support their potential as natural therapeutic agents for managing hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress. Further clinical studies are recommended to validate these promising findings and explore their application in nutraceutical development.