The rhizome of Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) has been used as a spice and for medical purposes in Asian, Indian, and Arabic herbal traditions since ancient time. Recently, it has gained considerable attention as a botanical dietary due to its active biological constituents of phenolic substances ([6]-gingerol, and [6]-paradol) that possess anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative properties. It also exerts substantial anti-carcinogenic activities. The present study used aqueous extract of Ginger concentration (120 mg/ml) as a protective agent against the ovotoxicity of the ovary of immature female rat. The study used the chemical 7, 12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) as a potent carcinogen causes destruction of different ovarian follicles to form the ovotoxicity. The histopathological observations of DMBA treated group revealed the following: 1- edematous ovaries leading to increment of their sizes, 2- pore ovarian cycle; 3- increase the number of atretic follicular in comparing with the still lived ones; 4- numerous large corpora lutea; 5- congested blood vessels; 6- stromal hyperplasia. The histochemical studies of the total protein have been given from sections stained with mercuric-bromophenol blue. DMBA treated group showed pail blue color at the granulose cells of the different follicles, ovarian medulla and corpus lutea indicating decrement of the protein content except some sites of high content may be indicate sites of active neoplasia. The histopathological and histochemical observations of DMBA and Ginger treated group exhibited a degree of the ovarian tissue improvement in which the size of the ovaries decreased, and the ovarian follicles were in different stages of development and the appearance of protein seems to be as control. Uses of Ginger as a protective substance against the ovotoxic ovarian tissue revealed some degree of improvement at this stage of experiment.
Key words: Ginger, DMBA, ovotoxicity.
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