ABSTRACT
Gastrotoxicity is characterized as damage to the stomach or a decrease in stomach function brought on by xenobiotic exposure. Arsenic trioxide has been acknowledged as one of the major causes of toxicity. According to the US Government Agency for dangerous Substances and Disease Registry, arsenic is the most dangerous element or substance on earth that is still being poured into our soil and waterways, sprayed into our environment, and ingested in our food and drink. One of those most therapeutic plants, Zingiber officinale, contains a number of therapeutic qualities that have been demonstrated to mitigate gastrotoxicity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Zingiber officinale on the arsenic trioxide-induced gastric damage on adult Wistar rats. The specific objectives of this study were to investigate the effect of aqueous rhizome extract of Zingiber officinale on the body weight of adult Wistar rats, organ (stomach) weight of adult Wistar rats, oxidative stress markers of the adult Wistar rats, histology of the stomach of adult Wistar rats. A total of thirty (30) adult Wistar rats weighing between 110g and 200g were assigned into six groups (A, B, C, D, E & F) of five rats per groups. The rats had free access to grower mash feed (Chikun feeds grower mash) and clean water throughout the entire study period. Group A Which served as control were administered 1ml of distilled H2O, Group B was given 10mg of arsenic trioxide per body weight, Group C was given 10mg of arsenic trioxide per body weight and 190mg of Zingiber officinale per body weight, Group D was given 10mg of arsenic trioxide per body weight and 380mg of Zingiber officinale per body weight, Group E was given 10mg of arsenic trioxide per body weight and 50mg of standard drug, Silymarin per body weight, Group F was given 380mg of Zingiber officinale per body weight. Orogastric tube were used to administer extracts, toxicants and standard drug (silymarin) respectively. On the 30th day the rats were sacrificed. At the end of the experiment, the animals were euthanized using chloroform anaesthesia. Their stomachs were harvested and fixed in 10% formal saline and taken to the Histopathology department in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City for histological processing using H&E stains for microscopy. Data were subjected to statistical analysis using the IBM SPSS statistics software (statistical package for social science) (Version 25) and relevant statistical values were obtained. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried out and data were presented as mean ± SEM.LSD post-hoc test were used. Values of P<0.05 were considered significant. The statistical values obtained converted into graphical representations in the form of bar charts. Results show there were no statistically significant differences (P>0.05) of body weights in all groups, when the initial body weights were compared to the final body weights. There were no statistically significant differences (P>0.05) in gastric weight across the groups. There was no statically significant difference in the hematological parameters. However, there were statistically significant difference in the oxidative stress markers. Zingiber officinale helped retain the normal architecture of the stomach with an increase in blood flow. Arsenic trioxide caused gastritis which was resolved when low dose of Zingiber officinale was administered. When arsenic trioxide and high dose of Zingiber officinale as well as Silymarin were administered, the gastritis was not resolved. In conclusion, Zingiber officinale has a mitigating effects on damaged stomach tissues.
