Antioxidant effects of Hydro-Alcoholic ginger on mice semen following treated with formaldehyde

Background: Formaldehyde (FA), the recently classified carcinogen and ubiquitous environmental contaminant, has long been suspected of causing adverse reproductive and developmental effects. Potential mechanisms underlying formaldehyde-induced reproductive and developmental toxicities, including chromosome and DNA damage (genotoxicity), oxidative stress, altered level and/or function of enzymes, hormones and proteins, apoptosis, were identified. Ginger rhizome (family: Zingiberaceae) is used medicinally and as a culinary spice. The medicinal use of ginger dates back to ancient China and India. Ginger and its constituents are stated to have antiemetic, antithrombotic, anti-inflammatory, stimulant, cholagogue and antioxidant. Enhanced oxidative stress and changes in antioxidant capacity are considered to play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic diabetes mellitus. The present study was conducted to assess whether ginger Hydro-Alcoholic extracts with antioxidant properties could serve as protective agents against testicular toxicity during formaldehyde treatment in a mice model.Methods: Fourty-eight adult male mice were randomly divided into control group (n=8); sham group(10 mg/kg distilled water) (n=8); FA-treated group (10 mg/kg twice per day, I.P) (n=8); Group 4: ginger (G) group (0/5 gr/Kg/day, oral) + 10 mg/kg FA (n=8); Group 5: ginger (G) group (1 gr/Kg/day, oral) + 10 mg/kg FA (n=8) and Group 6: ginger (G) group (2 gr/Kg/day, oral) + 10 mg/kg FA (n=8). Formaldehyde and ginger in treatment groups 4 to 6 were used simultaneously. Animals were kept in standard condition. Mice on experimental and control groups were killed under anesthetic conditions after 35 days. Sperm count, motility, morphology, viability and DNA integrity (AO), were studied, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels and testosterone were measured.Result: The FA-treated group showed significant decreases (PConclusion: Notably, ginger Hydro-Alcoholic extracts coadministration caused a considerable recovery in above-mentioned parameters.

Keywords:

Formaldehyde , Mice , Semen , Hydro-Alcoholic ginger