Background: Bisphenol -A (BPA) is a monomer used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics. BPA is used in diverse forms of plastic products in the food and electronic industries. BPA has been shown to leach out of products, and high levels of the monomer have been identified in human and animal samples. Many pharmacological effects were reported on ginger and its pungent constituents, fresh and dried rhizome. Among the pharmacological effects demonstrated are anti-platelet, antioxidant, anti-tumor, anti-rhinoviral and anti-hepatotoxicity.
Aim of the work: The current study was designed to investigate the effects of ginger extract on biochemical histomorphological and immunohistochemical changes induced in liver of albino rats by bisphenol A.
Materials and methods: Sixity healthy adult male albino rats of initial body weight 150-200 gm were included. Rats were randomly and equally divided into 4groups, group (I): subdivide into: group Ia negative control group, group (Ib): olive oil treated group, group (Ic):saline treated group, group (II): ginger group, group (III): bisphenol A group, group (IV) bisphenol A and ginger group. Treatment will continue for 8 weeks (three times a week). After the end of 8 weeks, the rats from each group will be sacrificed for biochemical, histopathological and immuno histochemical studies in liver.
Results: There was no significant difference between the negative, the positive control and ginger groups as regard all biochemical, histopathological and immune histochemical parameters.
Bisphenol- A significantly decreased hepatic glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities but significantly increased serum aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) levels together with deterioration of the hepatic histoarchitecture after eight weeks. Moreover, it was found that exogenous administration of ginger extract resulted in a significant improvement of all the above-mentioned parameters.
Conclusion: Ginger extract improved the hepatic toxicity induced by BPA that could be explained by the anti-oxidant effects of ginger extract.