protective role of ginger [zingiber officinale] against acrylamide induced neurotoxicity in mice

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the possible improvement in the histological and ultrastructural features of spinal cord and cerebellum of mice treated with ginger together with acrylamide. Thirty male adult CD-1 mice were divided into three groups, the first group [10 mice, served as control, the second group[10 mice] received 200 p.p.mn of acrylamide for 10 weeks [3 days/week] and the third group [10 mice] animals received ethanolic ginger extract at 50 mg/L [-5]for 10 weeks [3 days/week]. The animals were sacrificed and us sue samples were taken and processed for ultrastructural study. Acrylamide administration induced necrosis of the spinal cord motor neurons, degeneration of the myelinated and non-myelinated nerve fibers. The neuropil exhibited edema, vaculation and shrinkage of cerebellum neurons. In addition the damage of most cellular organdies such mitochondria, Golgi complex, rough endoplasmic reticulum, and irregularity of the nuclei which became peripheral in position, edema of tile neuropil and damage of the synaptic sites. On the contrary, in animals received ginger extract, the nervous tissue revealed improvement of the histology and ultrastructure of the tissues which became almost similar to tile control group tissue. It is possible to suggest that ginger may have a significant importance in protection against acrylamide induced neurological damage