Mitigating Effects of Zingiber Officinale against Reproductive Toxicity Induced by Dichlorvos in Male Rats

Objective: Aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Zingiber officinale in mitigating oxidative damage and reproductive toxicity in the testis, induced by chronic dichlorvos administration in male Wistar rats. Methods: Twenty-four adult male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups of 6 rats in each group. Group I received olive oil (1 ml/kg bwt/day) and served as control group, while Group II was administered dichlorvos (20 mg/kg bwt/day) and Group III and IV received a combination of dichlorvos (20 mg/kg bwt) and Zingiber officinale (ginger) extract (100 and 200 mg/kg bwt) for 45 d. At the end of the treatment period, the rats were sacrificed under light ether anesthesia. Results: The weight of the reproductive organs and serum FSH, LH and testosterone levels were assayed. Lipid peroxidation (indexed by MDA) and antioxidants enzymes glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase were also analysed. Dichlorovos treatment significantly (P≤0.05) decreased the weight of testis and epididymis as well as the serum levels of FSH, LH and testosterone. There was a highly significant (P≤0.01) decrease in the activities of glutathione, superoxide dismutase and catalase as well as significantly (P ≤0.05) increases in lipid peroxidation activity. However, extract of Zingiber officinale also attenuates significantly (P≤0.05) (P≤0.01) the hormonal level and antioxidant enzyme activity in the dichlorvos exposed animals. Conclusion: Co-administration of aqueous extract of Zingiber officinale with dichlorvos showed the protective effect and significantly increases the reproductive organs weight and enhances serum hormones level along with increased antioxidants activities and reduced lipid peroxidation. This indicates that Zingiber officinale mitigates reproductive toxicity and oxidative damage induced by dichlorvos exposure due to its antioxidant activity in the testes.