ABSTRACT
This study was carried out to evaluate the protective effect of ginger Zingeber officinale extract [ZOE] against the acrylamide [AC] which is an industrial chemical used in water treatment and it is synthesized during cooking of starch food at high temperature. Thirty adult male albino mice, each weighs 20-25 g were divided into three groups [10 mice/group]: [I]control group. II]acrylamide treated group. [III] acrylamide and ginger group. Acrylamide was given to experimental animals in the drinking water at a non-lethal dose of 200 p.p.m for 10 weeks [3 days/week]. Ginger extract was orally administrated at 50 mg/L [tilde 5 ml/day] for 10 weeks [3 days/week]. The ileum samples were collected for light microscope study and for scanning and transmission electron microscope examination. This study revealed that acrylamide induces pathological changes of the ileum of the treated mice specially the absorptive epithelial cells. The scanning electron microscopic study revealed damage of the ileal villi, some red blood corpuscles appeared at the site of damage. The transmission electron microscopic examination clearly demonstrated degeneration of most cell organelles as mitochondria, deterioration and degranulation of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, dilatation of Golgi apparatus. The administration of ginger extract decreased the histological alterations and ensuring the anti-inflammatory, and antitoxic effects of ZOE at its chosen dosage level