Purpose: To investigate the biological response of male rats to treatment with aqueous extract of ginger.
Methods: Eighteen healthy and sexually mature male albino rats of 12 weeks old were used as the mammalian model for this study. They were assigned to three groups of six rats each and treated with aqueous extract of ginger at 0, 100 and 200 mg/Kg BW/day respectively for 7 days intraperitoneally. Blood was collected by cardiac puncture for hormonal assay. Cauda epididymes were dissected out, weighed and processed for epididymal sperm count.
Results: Aqueous extract of ginger increased significantly (P<0.05) the weight of epididymes and epididymal sperm count. It also increased the serum levels of testosterone and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), while it decreased the serum levels of estradiol, prolactin and luteinizing hormone/interstitial cell stimulating hormone (LH/ICSH). Conclusions: The androgenic and pro-fertility effect of the aqueous extract of ginger in the mammalian model makes it a possible fertility booster.
