Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death around the world. Of all the spectra of cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction (MI) contributes the biggest proportion of mortality. MI results when perfusion of the myocardium is interrupted, thus, can only be treated by reperfusion therapy, a strategy that may cause ischemic reperfusion injury. This injury currently lacks therapy; therefore, there is need for more investigation to devise its preventive measures. Twenty five male Sprague dawley rats were divided into 4 groups (N = 5). Three of these were treated with varying doses of Zingiber officinale extract and one was treated with vehicle for 30 days. Ischemia and reperfusion (I &R) was performed on Langendorf perfused hearts and contractile function was measured during the pre-ischemic and post ischemic periods. These readings were then compared to assess the degree of myocardial recovery after I & R. Serum catalase activity was also determined. Groups were compared using ANOVA (α=0.05) There were statistically significant differences between groups in left ventricular developed pressure (P= 0.04), maximum rate of contraction (P=0.036), maximum rate of relaxation (P=0.04) and heart rate (p=0.041). There was also statistically significant difference between groups in serum catalase activity (p=0.032). Zingiber officinale may be having protective effects against ischemic reperfusion injury (IRI). This effect was demonstrated in the current study by improved recovery of left ventricular contractile function following myocardial ischemic-reperfusion injury in the treated groups. The study also depicts that Zingiber officinale exerts antioxidant effect by increasing catalase activity.