Department of Physiology

Permanent URI for this community

https://ir.unilag.edu.ng/handle/123456789/3585

Browse

Browsing Department of Physiology by Subject "Antioxidants"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Item
    Open Access
    Effect of Zingiber officinale (Ginger) on sodium arsenite-induced reproductive toxicity in male rats. Afr. J. Biomed. Res. 13(1): 39-45
    (2010) Morakinyo, AO; Achema, PU; Adegoke, OA
    Arsenite is a major environmental chemical and a known reproductive toxicant via the depression of spermatogenesis and androgenesis in males. The possibility of sodium arsenite reproductive toxicity been caused by autooxidation was investigated in this study taking advantage of the anti-oxidant properties of ginger and its androgenic activities. The effect of exposure to sodium arsenite (10 mg/kg BW/day) by gavage via oral cannula without or with aqueous ginger extract (500mg/kg BW/day) co-treatments for 30 days was evaluated in adult male rats. The weight of the reproductive organs, sperm count, motility, and morphology were evaluated. Plasma FSH, LH and testosterone levels were assayed. Lipid peroxidation (indexed by MDA) and antioxidants enzymes likes GSH, SOD, CAT were assessed. Sodium arsenite treatment decreased the reproductive organs weight: testis, epididymis, prostate and seminal vesicle; sperm functions: count, motility and normal morphology; plasma hormones level: FSH, LH and testosterone. There was a decrease in the activities of GSH, SOD and CAT as well as an increase in MDA concentration. Co-administration of aqueous ginger extract with arsenite was found to protect against adverse change in the reproductive organ weight, attenuate the decrease in sperm functions, enhance plasma reproductive hormones level along with increased antioxidants activities and reduced peroxidation. This study showed that sodium arsenite apart from being a hormonal disrupter also causes oxidative stress which contributed to the reproductive damage in the male rats. The protective effects of ginger on reproductive toxicity and oxidative stress as evidenced by the clear restoration of sperm functions, testicular steroidogenesis and reproductive organo-somatic indices could be attributed to its antioxidants and androgenic properties.
  • Item
    Open Access
    Modulation of antioxidant enzymes and inflammatory cytokines: possible mechanism of antidiabetic effect of ginger extracts.
    (2011) Morakinyo, AO; Akindele, AJ; Ahmed, Z
    Zingiber officinale is used in African traditional medicine to treat diabetes mellitus. Oxidative stress and inflammation are associated with the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus and its complications. This investigation tested the hypothesis that extracts of Zingiber officinale inhibit oxidative stress and inflammation by enhancing antioxidant enzymes and TNF-α activity in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Wistar rats were randomly divided into groups (n=6) receiving different oral treatments consisting of vehicle, aqueous ginger extract (250 and 500 mg/kg), ethanol ginger extract (250 and 500 mg). The effect of Z. officinale was assessed in the STZ-induced diabetic rats after 6-week treatment on blood glucose; oxidative stress (using MDA level, SOD, CAT and GSH activities); and inflammation (using TNF-α). Both extracts of Z. officinale increased the intracellular activities of SOD, CAT and GSH. The extracts however caused a significant decrease in the MDA and inflammatory TNF-α level. These data indicate that mechanism of antidiabetic effects of ginger may be in part, due to inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammatory activity.