Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Accumulating stud-ies have demonstrated the potential activity of ginger in treating and manage several diseases whoever little is known about its protective ef-fects against teratogenicity of chemical toxins. Thus, in this study, we have evaluated the pro-tective effect of gingerol fraction (GF) against methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) induced teratogenic effects in newborn of mice.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 30 mature females and fifteen male mice (Mus musculus) weighing 25-30 g were included in this study. The pregnant mice were divided in-to three groups (10 mice each); control group (GI, mice received normal drinking water; NDW), methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) treated group (GII, re-ceived MEK at a dose of 350 mg/kg body weight in NDW), and GF treated group (GIII; mice re-ceived GF at a dose of 25 mg/kg in NDR). Histo-logical analysis, cellular oxidative, and antioxi-dant enzymes, fibrosis, and apoptosis of brain, liver, and kidney tissues were estimated by his-tological and immunoassay techniques.RESULTS: In this study, the treatment of preg-nant female mice with gingerol fractions (GF) at a dose of 25 mg/kg significantly protected all tissues organs of mothers and their offspring against the teratogenic effects induced by MEK at a dose of 350 mg/kg. A significant improve-ment in cellular antioxidant enzymes GSH, SOD, and peroxidase activities along with a reduction in the initiation of cellular oxidative free radicals (TBARS) was reported in GF treated mice com-pared to mice intoxicated with MEK (350 mg/kg). In addition, a significant reduction in cellular fi-brosis and apoptosis was reported in all tissues of mothers and their offspring's following treat-ment with GF. HPLC analysis of ginger extracts estimated a set of polyphenolic compounds such [6]-gingerol, [8]-gingerol, [10]-gingerol, and [6]-shogaol which are responsible for the antiox-idant, anti-fibrotic, and anti-apoptotic protective effects against teratogenic effects of MEK.CONCLUSIONS: Gingerol fractions (GF) at a dose of 25 mg/kg significantly predicted all tissues organs of mothers and their offspring against the teratogenic effects induced by MEK at a dose of 350 mg/kg. The beneficial effects of ginger phenolic compounds; [6]-gingerol, [8]-gingerol, [10]-gingerol, and [6]-shogaol against teratogenic effects of MEK proceeded through their antioxidant, anti-fibrotic, and an-ti-apoptotic properties.