Influence of Ginger extract on female rat’s sexual hormones in induced oxidative stress states

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of ginger extract on sex hormones of female rats, which exposed to induced oxidative stress. Twenty female rats after weaning were into 4 groups: The first group (control) was gavaged 0.1 ml olive oil for 30 days. The second group was gavaged 0.1 ml olive oil and was injected Tert-Butyl hydroperoxide (TBH; 0.1 mmole per kg of body weight). The TBH was injected into peritoneum every other day. The third group was gavaged with ginger extract dissolved in 0.1 ml olive oil (500 milligram per kilogram body weight) for five days per week, and the forth group was injected with TBH in peritoneum and gavaged with ginger extract dissolved in 0.1 ml olive oil (500 milligram per kilogram body weight) for five days per week. At the end of the experiment, some sex hormones were measured in plasma. Interactions between ginger extract and TBH injection were not significant for measured sex hormones (P > 0.10). Injection of TBH to rats decreased LH and estradiol concentrations (p < 0.05). The concentrations of LH and FSH tended to be greater in rats received ginger extract. In conclusion, result of this study show that administration of ginger extract increased the concentration of some sexual hormones and these responses may positively affect reproductive performance.