Ginger protects against reproductive toxicity of aluminium chloride in rats. - GreenMedInfo Summary

The aim of the current study was to evaluate reproductive disorders concomitant with aluminium chloride (AlCl(3) ) toxicity in Albino male rats. Attention was also directed to study the protective influence of ginger against this toxicity. Forty-five mature Albino Wistar male rats were equally divided into three groups; the first group was served as control group while those of the second group (AlCl(3) ) were daily treated with 34 mg/kg bw. AlCl(3) orally. The third group (AlCl(3)  + ginger) was treated daily with AlCl(3) as in group 2 in combination with ginger (40 mg/kg bw), which started 2 weeks prior to AlCl(3) . Five animals from each group were sacrificed on days 30, 45 and 60 of treatment. AlCl(3) administration significantly decreased serum testosterone levels, increased testicular homogenate malondialdehyde and deteriorated semen picture with increased testicular DNA fragmentation. Histopathological examination revealed degenerative changes of the seminiferous tubules with focal areas of necrosed spermatogenic cells, marked degeneration and desquamation of the lining epithelial cells of epididymis as well as multiple calcified material in prostate gland following 60 days of aluminium treatment. Ginger treatment started to improve significantly all studied parameters after 60 days as compared with AlCl(3) -treated group. In the current study, it was concluded that AlCl(3) had a destructive effect on all the studied reproductive parameters. Treatment with ginger has an ameliorating effect against AlCl(3) toxicity after 60 days post-treatment.