Article,
Study Of The Chemopreventive Effects Of Zingiber Officinale Roots Against Aspartame Induced Testicular Toxicity In Rat Model
Reviews of Progress, (January 2014)
Abstract
Infertility is one of the major health problems in life, and approximately 30% of
this problem is due to male factors. Research carried out in last few decades has
validated several such claims of use of traditional medicine plants. Zingiber officinale
(Z. officinale) roots is commonly used as culinary spice and used medicinally for its
antioxidant and androgenic activities. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the
chemoprotective effect of Z. officinale roots against aspartame induced rat testicular
toxicity. The chosen dose of aspartame was adjusted to 0.2ml/ 25g b.wt. and was given
three times per week for 12 weeks. Ginger aqueous extract were adjusted to 500mg/kg
and were given three times per week for 12 weeks. Aspartame caused a marked rise in
serum testosterone, LH and FSH hormones level. Concerning oxidative stress and
antioxidant defense system, aspartame group pretreated with ginger extract successfully
ameliorated testes reduced glutathione level, glutathione-s-transferase and catalase
activities compared to aspartame treated group which give inverse results. However,
while elevated lipid peroxidation was noticed in aspartame treated rats, pretreatment
with ginger extract produced a detectable decrease in lipid peroxidation level. The
natural plant components may have chemopreventive effect against aspartame that may
be cause testicular toxicity. However, further clinical studies are required to assess the
safety and benefits of ginger root in human beings.
