AMELIORATIVE EFFECT OF ZINGIBER OFFICINALE ETHANOL EXTRACT ON CHROMIUM-INDUCED MALE REPROTOXICITY IN WISTAR RAT

This study explored the protective effects of oral ginger extract against chromium trioxide (CrO3)-induced male reprotoxicity in Wistar albino rats. Rats exposed to CrO3 for 8 weeks showed significant declines in body weight (11.67 +/- 3.78 g), serum testosterone levels (6.45 +/- 1.35 ng/mL), Glutathione (GSH) level (17.29 +/- 1.96 mu M/mg), and catalase activity (9.54 +/- 0.11 mM H2O2/ min/mg), with no notable change in relative testicular weight. Conversely, ginger extract-treated rats exhibited substantial improvements, including increased body weight (45.33 +/- 09.11 g), enhanced GSH levels in testicular tissue (24.02 +/- 1.69 mu M/g), and improved catalase activity (11.56 +/- 1.25 mM H2O2/ min/mg). However, concurrent CrO3 and Z. officinale extract treatment showed no significant changes in testosterone levels. Z. officinale extract, due to its high content of polyphenols (194.82 +/- 8.57 mg GAE/g d.w.), and flavonoids 0.57 +/- 0.14 mg/ml), showed a remarkable ameliorative effect against chromium