Memudu AE, Akinrinade ID, Ogundele OM, Duru F
Ginger Rhizome ( Zingiber officinale ; Family: Zingiberanceae) is used medicinally and a s a culinary spice. The objective is to investigate the androgen ic activity of Ginger on testicular histology of ad ult Sparague Dawley rats. 30 adult male Sparague - Dawley rats w eighing between 120g -150g were used. They were allotted into 3 groups. The control group (n=10) and treated groups for 28 days (n=10) and 56 days (n=10) respectively. The treated groups rec eived 200mg/kg of the aqueous extract. Extract was given via gastric intubation. The controls as w ell as treated animals were allowed free access to rats’ pelleted feds and water ad libitum. The animals were sacrificed. Testicular weight was taken and caudal epididymis excised for biochemical analysis. There was an increase in animal body weight gained throughout the duration of the experiment as compared with the control. There was also a significance increase in testicular weight. Semen a nalysis appears normal; no oligospermic or azoospermic condition detected. Sperm morphology is normal no teratozoospermic sperm found. The aqueous extract of Zingiber officinale at dose of 200mg/kg for 4 weeks and 8 weeks respect ively had a positive impact on testosterone level. Results stip ulate that it stimulates secretion from the testes (and other male accessory sex organs) that influenc es semen. Hence this study reveals no deleterious effects of aqueous extraction of dry fr uits of Zingiber officinale on male reproductive indices, so if any deleterious effect should occur then it could be dose – dependent or duration dependent.
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