Androgenic Activity Evaluation of Ginger Rhizome inReducing Depression in the Forced Swimming Test of RatsExposed to Electromagnetic Field (EMF)

Abstract

Objective: Ginger has always been known as one of the most famous medicinal herbs in eastern Asia (China and India). In this study we examined the effects of antidepressants-like activity of Ginger on the protection of central nervous system against oxidative damages. Material and Methods: Male Wistar rats (n=30) were allocated into three groups, control (n=10) and test groups (n=20) that subdivided into groups of 2 that had been exposed to 50 Hz electromagnetic fields (EMFs) for 8 weeks, one of the test groups received Ginger rhizome powder (1.5 g/kg/day. body weight) for 8 weeks as well. In the second and eighth weeks, we used forced swimming test in order to evaluate the antidepressant effect of Ginger powder on the rats exposed to EMF. Results: In the second week results revealed EMF exposure increase immobility but decrease loco-motor function of swimming and climbing in comparison to control group (P < 0.05) whereas at the end of 8th week, rats that had been fed with Ginger powder (1.5 g g/kg/day .body weight) showed decrease in immobility score and increase in swimming (P < 0.001), but not in climbing scores significantly. (P =0.18). Conclusion: Ginger powder could act as serotoninergic antidepressant medicine in order to decrease depression presentation in exposed subjects to EMF.

The effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale) supplementation on clinical, biochemical, and anthropometric parameters in patients with multiple sclerosis: a double-blind randomized controlled trial

“…Moreover, supplementation with ginger has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression in human 48,49 and animal studies. 50,51 Therefore, the amelioration of psychological QoL in this study may be caused by the anti-anxiety and anti-depressant effects of ginger. These effects seem to be mediated through serotonergic pathways.…”

Preventive Effects of Ginger Extract and Nigella sativa Oil on Anxiety and Depression Behavior in Wistar Rats Exposed to Mercuric Chloride

“…[24,25] However, true mechanism of antidepressant effect of the Ginger is still unknown but behavioral parameters in forced swimming test confirmed potential antidepressant effect as serotonergic agents. [26,27] The antidepressant effect of thymoquinone (active constituent of Nigella sativa) by increasing 5-HT concentrations which in turns modulate/down regulate the swim or hanging stress induced serotonergic dysfunction. The synaptic enhancement of monoamine level, predominantly 5-HT, is the key pharmacological mechanism of the anti-depressant effect.…”

Effects of oral administration of an aqueous ginger extract on anxiety behavior and tryptophan and serotonin metabolism in the rat

“…As stated in the Introduction, ginger extracts and 6-gingerol exert antidepressant-like effects in rat and mouse models. 5,2 The majority of active constituents of ginger are phenolic in nature. Several earlier studies showed that TDO activity is inhibited in vitro by phenols, such as catechol, dihydroxyphenylalanine, epinephrine, 5-HTP, norepinephrine, resorcinol and salicylate.…”

“…4 and its pattern of behavior in the forced swimming test resemble that of serotonergic antidepressants. 5 The bioflavonoid quercetin is abundant in Ginger. 6 and is known to exert a wide range of behavioral effects, such as anxiolytic and antidepressant.…”