Zingiber officinale-supplemented diet reversed lead-induced oxidative stress and cerebral cortex injuries in adult female Wistar rats

Abstract

Background and aim: Ginger (Zingiber officinale), a widely recognized medicinal plant popularly used as spice has attracted attention due to its ability to boost the immune system and reverse conditions associated with organ toxicity via its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. This study assessed the effects of Zingiber Officinale (ginger) on the changes in feed intake, oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde and total antioxidant capacity) and cerebral cortex injury associated with lead treatment in rats.

Materials and methods: Twenty adult female Wistar rats, each weighing between 150 and 170g, were randomly divided into four groups of five animals each (n = 5). Groups A and B; the negative and positive controls were fed with (distilled water) orally via gavage and basic lead carbonate at 30 mg/kg respectively. Both groups A and B were fed with measured standard diet. Groups C and D received a diet supplemented with powdered ginger at compositions of 1% and 5% of their feed respectively. All the administered substances were provided daily throughout the experimental period of 28 days. On day 29, the animals were euthanized by cervical dislocation and blood samples were collected through intra-cardiac puncture, stored in a heparinized bottle, and further processed to assess the levels of oxidative markers (Malondialdehyde and Anti-oxidant status). The brain tissues were extracted, visually examined, weighed, fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin, processed for paraffin embedding, cut to a thickness of 5μm, and stained with Hemetoxylin and Eosin (H&E) for histological findings.

Results: Result showed that ginger reversed decreased feed intake, oxidative impairment, and cerebral cortex injury induced by lead.

Conclusion: The consumption of products supplemented with ginger and its usage as spice should be further encouraged. More findings are needed to ascertain its optimal consumption levels in humans.