Background: The objective was to investigate the antiurolithiatic and antioxidant activity of ethanolic extract of Zingiber officinale (EZO) on ethylene glycol-induced urolithiasis.
Materials and methods: EZO was assessed for its curative and preventive action in urolithiasis. In preventive treatment, the EZO is given from 1st day to 28th day, while in curative regimen; the EZO was given from 15th day to 28th day. Various renal functional and injury markers such as urine volume, calcium, phosphate, uric acid, magnesium and urea were evaluated using urine, serum, and kidney homogenates. Antioxidant parameters such as MDA, GR, GSH and CAT were also estimated.
Results: The EZO treatment (both preventive and curative) increased urine output significantly compared to control. The EZO treatment significantly reduced urinary excretion of calcium, phosphate, uric acid, magnesium and urea. The increased deposition of stone forming constituents in kidneys of calculogenic rats were significantly lowered by curative and preventive treatment with EZO. Increased levels of MDA and decreased levels of GR, GSH and CAT were observed in calculi-induced animals compared to normal animals. The treatment with EZO (200 and 400mg/kg) and cystone produced significant results. This is in conformation with histopathology results.
Conclusion: These results suggest usefulness of ethanol extract of Zingiber officinale rhizome as an antiurolithatic agent.

Keywords: Antioxidant, ethylene glycol, Zingiber officinale, urolithiasis.