The Possible Protective Role of Ginger in Gamma RadiationInduced Jejunal Enteropathy in Adult Male Rats. A Light and Electron microscopic study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 department of anatomy , faculty of medicine , ain shams university

2 department of histology, faculty of medicine , ain shams university, cairo egypt

Abstract

Background: The intestine is one of the most sensitive organs affected by radiation toxicity, that is why mortality due to radiation enterocolitis stays a challenge. Recent studies had stated that ginger might possess, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. The study aimed to explore the possible role of ginger as a protective and as a therapeutic agent on the gamma irradiation-induced enteropathy.
Material and Methods: Thirty six adult male albino rats were used in this study. The animals were divided randomly into three groups: group I, control, and group II; (gamma irradiated) each rat was exposed to single exposure of 0.739 (11Gray/min) gamma radiation, group III; irradiated and given ginger extract, it was further subdivided into two subgroups each of them was irradiated as in group II and given ginger extract orally once daily in a dose of 120mg/kg. Subgroup IIIa: received ginger extract seven days before radiation while subgroup III b: received ginger extract fourteen days before and after radiation. Jejunal specimens were collected from sacrificed animals and examined by light and scanning electron microscopes. Morphometric study and statistical analysis were done.
Results: Group II as compared to control showed distortion and fusion of some villi. While the crypts showed focal proliferation of its lining cells and invasion with inflammatory cells. Moreover, subgroup IIIa showed focal disruption of the crypts’ wall. Significant decrease in mean number of goblet cells and significant increase in collagen fibers mean percentage area were noticed in group II compared to the control. However, subgroup IIIb showed restoration of most of the structure of the jejunal mucosa to become comparably similar to control.
Conclusion: Ginger seemed to be a promising agent for amelioration of intestinal injury induced by radiation.

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