Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Ginger) as a Complementary Option for Clinical Treatment of Endometriosis: An Experimental Study in Rats

Abstract

Endometriosis was induced (autotransplant) in Wistar rats. After 21 days, the rats were randomly divided into two groups (16 female rats each). Control group was forced-fed 0.9% sodium chloride solution, and the ginger group was forced-fed 0.5 mg/100 g of Zingiber officinale Roscoe fresh extract, both by gavage, for 14 days, in addition to their normal diet. After that, an anesthetic dose (ketamine/xylazine) was administered until euthanasia. Peritoneal lavage fluid was collected to evaluate tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6, and autotransplant was measured and excised to evaluate histology. The final mean volumes were larger in the control group (120.92 mm³ ± 78.91) than in the ginger group (40.50 mm³ ± 19.57) (P = .01). The endometriosis foci increased in the control group from 45.10 mm³ ± 29.96 at 21 days postimplantation to 120.92 mm³ ± 78.91 on the day of euthanasia (P = .02). In the ginger group, a slight increase was observed from 38.43 mm³ ± 19.96 to 40.50 mm³ ± 19.57, without statistical difference (P = .83). In addition, a greater increase in growth of the endometriosis foci was found when compared with the control (75.81 mm³ ± 58.95) and ginger groups (2.07 mm³ ± 18.87) (P = .004). No difference was found in TNF-α (P = .51) and in IL-6 (P = .12). The degree of lesion atrophy was higher in the ginger group (1 ± 0.92) than in the control group (2.25 ± 1.16) (P = .03). The ginger extract reduced and atrophied autotransplanted endometriosis foci, but did not reduce IL-6 and TNF-α in the peritoneal lavage fluid.

Keywords: Wistar; autotransplant; extract.