Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Ginger on the Micro Anatomy of the Testis of Adult Wistar Rats

Abstract

Ginger rhizome (Zingiber Officinale Rosco, family: Zingiberaceae) is used medicinally, it is known to have both nutritional and medicinal value. This study is to determine the effect of ethanolic extra of the rhizome of ginger on the microanatomy of the testis. Twenty five male Wistar rats were selected and randomly divided into control group and experimental group. The control group was further divided into two groups (A & B) with group A as normal control and group B as vehicle control. Group A took distilled water and feed and group B took distilled water, feed and 2mls of olive oil (as vehicle). The experimental group was divided into three groups (C, D & E) and received 100mg/kg, 250mg/kg and 500mg/kg daily according to their body weight for 14days in the 15^th day the animals of all groups were sacrificed and the testes harvested and processed for histological observations. Histological sections of the experimental groups showed distortion of germinal and supporting cells, disintegration of matured sperm cells in the lumen, distortion of seminiferious tubules, widened interstitial spaces indicating shrinkage of tubules and destruction of leydig cells while sections of control groups showed normal histological architecture of the testes with all cells arranged orderly. There was significant damage to the testis in general.  Hence, the usage of ginger by the males should be moderate, as high consumption may have some side effects on male fertility.

Keywords: Wistar rat, Ginger, Microanatomy, Testis